The Natural Awakenings family lost a great and kind soul with the January 5 passing of Dr. John Stephen Kovar. A Fort Walton Beach chiropractor for more than 36 years, he was devoted to natural health care and the ultimate wellness of his patients.  

Born and raised in Saint Louis, he was a 1972 graduate of University City High School, where he excelled in basketball, cross country and track. After receiving his premedical training at Saint Mary’s College in O’Fallon, Missouri, he entered Logan Chiropractic College in the fall of 1978. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in September 1981, at which time he relocated to Fort Walton Beach with his late wife, Dixie, and daughter, Kristin. He became licensed to practice chiropractic in Florida in December 1981 and opened his private practice in June 1982. 

Since the inception of Kovar Chiropractic and Natural Wellness Center, he was always focused on natural, holistic healing, learning practices such as Activator Technique, Sacral-Occipital Technique, Cox Traction, Neuro-Emotional Technique and acupuncture. His most recent passion was improving his patients’ quality of life through nutritional testing and dietary supplements. 

“John loved his patients,” his family said in a statement. “If he laid his hands on you, you were in his heart. John had an excellent rapport with his patients. He genuinely cared for them and wanted to help them.” His office manager, Sandy Jean Graves, has been with ‘Doc’ for 30 years, and together they nurtured every patient that walked through the door. Mitzi Sue Williams, his massage therapist, has been with the practice for over 15 years, providing excellent care through her healing hands as well.  

“Most recently, John was enjoying life with his current wife, Pam, and planning many fun adventures after retirement. We hope that his legacy will live on through his previous practice and the lives of his patients. His kindness and love for people are everlasting.”