Nicholas Matthew Tomljanovich, 86, of Carlisle, Massachusetts departed this life peacefully on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Nick was born in Rijeka, Croatia just before the start of World War II. After the war, he and his family sought refuge in Italy, where they lived for a number of years before coming to the United States and settling in the Bronx. Nick attended City College of New York for his undergraduate work and then obtained his PhD in Physics from MIT in 1966. Upon graduation, he joined the MITRE Corporation where he worked as a systems engineer for an astonishing 53 years. His work on radar pioneered several of the technological innovations during the Cold War, including the U.S. Air Force Joint STARS and AWACS projects.

Nick and Claudine married in 1966 and lived on the outskirts of Boston for 43 years until her passing in 2009. Nick was an avid yachtsman and sports car enthusiast. He also enjoyed traveling, breakfasts with friends in Carlisle, and time with his family.

Nick is survived by his son Marc and daughter-in-law Caryn, his two grandchildren Lyra and Evan, his brother Paul, and nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends will gather for Nick's funeral service on Saturday, March 7th at 11:00 am in the Farrar Chapel of the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center.  Burial will follow at Green Cemetery in Carlisle.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Carlisle Council on Aging , 66 Westford Street, Carlisle, MA 01741 or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation .

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.