Tributes pour in for Jean Sakovich

Saipan Swim Club co-founder and 2004 CNMI Sports Hall of Famer Jean “Jeannie” Sakovich has passed away. In a social post last Dec. 16, she was hospitalized with cancer since Nov. 18.

She is survived by SSC co-founder and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Bill Sakovich, son Jonathan, also a Hall of Famer, and daughter Anneka.

The Northern Marianas Sports Association, in a statement, said it joins the local sports community and the entire Pacific in mourning the passing of Sakovich.

“Jeannie was a pillar in NMI swimming, as she co-founded the Saipan Swim Club with her husband, Bill, in the 1970s. Together, they discovered, developed, and trained swimmers that later on represented the NMI to different regional and international competitions and brought honors to the islands.”

NMSA said in 2004, when SSC celebrated its 30th anniversary, the club’s co-founders were credited for SSC’s combined medal haul of 70 gold, 55 silver, and 50 bronze medals from the Micronesian Games and South Pacific Games (now Pacific Games).

“No other sports program than swimming has brought home more medals and championships to the NMI. Under Jeannie and Bill’s dedication and commitment to developing NMI swimmers, several of the islands’ student-athletes also gained opportunities to pursue higher education through athletics scholarships.”

NMSA wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family of Sakovich.

“For more than three decades, Jeannie and her husband, Bill, dedicated their time and efforts to one of the most successful programs in NMI sports. Even after they left Saipan in the early 2000s, they still provided guidance to our swimmers and coaches, especially when they were competing off-island and representing the NMI,” it said.

The Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation also said it’s deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sakovich.

“Jean was instrumental in advancing aquatics here in the CNMI starting in the 1970s. She, along with her husband Bill, were trailblazers. They started and sustained swimming programs that provided a pathway for many local athletes to not just learn to swim, but compete and perform at the highest levels at home, regionally, and internationally. She will always be remembered for her tireless devotion to NMI swimming and her passion for helping children reach their potential. The NMI swimming community extends our heartfelt condolences to the Sakovich family during this time of loss. RIP Jean!” its board of directors said in a statement.

The SSC, meanwhile, said they’ve known about Sakovich’s diagnosis since late last year and were praying for her recovery.

“Jean, Bill, and the family have been in our thoughts since we heard of her illness and retirement from swim coaching. She touched so many lives, she will be missed, and she will be remembered fondly. Saipan Swim Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and it is bittersweet to know Jean won’t be there to celebrate with us. Our condolences go out to Bill and the family.”

Fellow Sports Hall of Famer Jeff Race said he was profoundly saddened upon hearing the passing of Sakovich.

“It makes me sad. Jean was a very giving person and spent countless hours developing young swimmers in the NMI. We used to swim out to the tanks, run the hash, and spend holidays together. She will be missed by her family and many of us here on Saipan.

Another Sports Hall of Famer, Kurt Barnes, echoed what Race said.

“She touched the lives of many of the CNMI’s greatest swimmers and was instrumental in raising the awareness of the sport of swimming and swimming skills all across Micronesia and Oceania. An icon for sure… I have tears in my eyes.”

Michael White, former NMSA president and Sports Hall of Fame member, said, “Jean was a true force for NMI swimming, and together with Bill, made our islands a Pacific powerhouse in the sport.”

Wolf Mojica, who along with the Sakoviches helped establish the Tagaman and XTERRA Saipan triathlons, is still at a loss for words following Sakovich’s passing.

“I was terribly saddened to hear about Jean’s passing. She and Bill were the backbone of the Saipan Swim Club. She was also a great supporter of Tagaman and XTERRA as partner to Bill. She was always so active, vibrant, and a swimming icon. She will be missed.”

SSC coach Richard Sikkel said he will forever remember Sakovich as a friend and mentor. “I loved her humor and ability to tell it like it is.”

Dirk Sharer, who won a bronze medal in triathlon in the 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji, said he’s heartbroken as his “SwimMom” has passed.

“Her infectious personality, kind smile, and hearty laugh were happily a part of my daily life on Saipan. Her patience was unlimited as I tried and tried to improve my swimming. Then one day, it clicked and to this day I swim about 7-10 kilometers a week.”

Sharer also shared some of Sakovich’s unorthodox coaching techniques.

“I’m so blessed she coached us during the Pacific Games in Fiji as we did quite well. One of her pool train incentives was to place whiskey, bourbon, gin, and vodka shot bottles on the blocks and have us race for them. And another time, I was exhausted after a Saturday morning session. I asked her if I could have a swig of her coffee. She said ‘go ahead.’ I took a hit and spit into the pool. She was laughing so hard. She said ‘how do you like my morning cup of sugar and a whisper of coffee?’ More and more stories come to mind but her heart was always there for all of us. Bless you, ‘SwimMom.’”

Not only did her contemporaries paid tribute to Sakovich, but her wards also sent messages of condolences to the coach they simply called “Mrs.”

Multiple Micronesian Games gold medalist Rezne Wong said unknown to many Jean actually was the drillmaster in the SSC.

“We young swimmers always feared if Mrs. was going to coach practice back in the day in the late 1990s-2000s. She was no joke—if you thought coach Bill was intense, you weren’t ready for Mrs. Even the parents were scared because she’d make us swim late into the evening. However, looking back as an adult, I respected that she tested our limits as athletes. It helped us in swimming and in life.”

Wong, however, said as he got older, he experienced the very caring and gentle side of Sakovich.

“She hosted me during my freshman year at the University of Hawaii when I visited them in Hilo. She made me feel at home. I began to realize that both Jean and Bill simply loved the sport of swimming and loved us silly kids on Saipan.”

Wong said he and other former SSC swimmers will forever be in debt of the Sakoviches.

“I will always appreciate and honor her dedication, determination, and love for me and my fellow swimmers. My prayers go out to her and her beautiful family. Rest in peace, Mrs!”

Another bemedaled swimmer, Juan Camacho, said the Sakoviches set the standard in the art of coaching for all sports in the CNMI.

“Specifically, in the sport swimming, they have outdone themselves by nurturing, mentoring, and leading its CNMI swimmers. Without a doubt I know that swimming has been overlooked over the years and we need to remember that swimming has brought back the most medals for the CNMI in all Micronesian Games and South Pacific Games combined. Without Mr. and Mrs. Sakovich, the CNMI would not have had a huge success in swimming.”

Camacho said he still cherishes the time when the Sakoviches took him around the island of their new home in Hawaii during his senior trip in high school.

“They took me to their home and still after five years into retirement they were always making sure I had a plan for my future. They are truly one of the idols in my life that has groomed me to be the individual, leader, and family man today. Mr. Sakovich, the CNMI will always be your home, we love and miss you! Condolences, thoughts, prayers to you and the Ohana,” he said.