{"id":408062,"date":"2024-04-16T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=408062"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Paddle-out-tribute-held-for-Mrs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Paddle-out-tribute-held-for-Mrs\/","title":{"rendered":"Paddle out tribute held for \u2018Mrs.\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

A heartfelt and beautiful \u201cCelebration of Life\u201d tribute was held for the late Saipan Swim Club co-founder and 2004 CNMI Sports Hall of Famer Jean \u201cJeannie\u201d Sakovich at the Guma Sakman in Susupe last Sunday.<\/p>\n

The memorial was live-streamed and watched by her family including widower, co-founder of SCC, and fellow Hall of Famer Bill Sakovich in Hawaii.<\/p>\n

Before proceeding in the water for the paddle out, the ceremony was serenaded by Larry and Kui Lee and Ed Johnson.<\/p>\n

Flowers placed by people who attended the tribute covered the water with its colorful petals as some swam out and paddled out in their canoes for another tribute in the water off the shores of Susupe.<\/p>\n

On land, an outpouring of memories was shared from the diverse lives she touched throughout the years\u2014from the Winkfield family including Jacoby, Bobby, and Debbie; Bob Coldeen, Jeff Race, Colin Thompson, Keanna Villagomez, Michail Villagomez, and Roberta Guerrero.<\/p>\n

As the group formed a circle by the water\u2019s edge, they shared stories and memories of Jean, who Saipan swimmers fondly called \u201cMrs.\u201d<\/p>\n

They highlighted her dedication, hard work, and passion for swimming and the values and lessons she instilled in the swimmers, and how her legacy continues to inspire the next generation. They also expressed gratitude toward Jean and Bill for their leadership and selflessness in leading Saipan\u2019s swimming community.<\/p>\n

Jean arrived on Saipan in 1973 from Hawaii and formed the first sports club on Saipan in 1974.<\/p>\n

Glen Policare led the memorial and opened up with what Carolyn Pierce wrote in SCC\u2019s newsletter, The Trident<\/em>\u2019s last issue. \u201cJean Sakovich had a lifelong passion for swimming that she shared with hundreds of all ages for 55 years. This final issue of the Saipan Swim Club is dedicated to her and her accomplishments with the over 300 swimmers from the Northern Marianas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacoby Winkfield wrapped up the tribute and said, \u201cThank you to the legacy and the gift you gave us. I see all of my fellow swimmers out there and other generations. They\u2019re still here and supporting the community. You gave all of us a gift\u2014something that we can do for a very long time, so thank you. I\u2019m sharing that with my kids and trying to pass it on to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bill told Saipan Tribune<\/em> in an email that the tribute was a \u201cwonderful tribute\u201d to his wife \u201cwho has done a lot around the world especially in aquatic activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI really want to thank Jacoby Winkfield and Glenn Policare for organizing the tribute on Saipan. It was so nice to see Saipan and our Saipan friends again and the beaches where the Saipan Swim Club had its beginnings,\u201d said Bill.<\/p>\n

\u201cJeannie and I are indebted to the people of Saipan and the tributes that keep coming in. Thank you to those heartfelt comments by Bob and Debbie Winkfield, Bob Coldeen, Jeff Race, Roberta Guerrero, and others who offered their kind words. Thank you, Saipan, si yu\u2019us ma\u2019ase<\/em>!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Bill added that earlier on the same day of the Saipan tribute, they honored Jean with a paddle out to Hilo Bay in Hawaii with about 50 canoes that participated in a traditional Hawaiian farewell. CNMI\u2019s Jeremy Winkfield and Chris Nelson were in attendance. Also, last Friday, Bill said that a \u201cCelebration of Life\u201d was held with about 250 attendees at the Hilo Yacht Club.<\/p>\n

Bill said that the CNMI Legislature acknowledged Jean with a proclamation, and the Oceania Swimming Federation acknowledged her with the Outstanding Swim Coach of the Year award in the Pacific Islands and the Jean Sakovich Memorial Award that is presented at each Oceania Championships.<\/p>\n

In Hilo, she has been praised by her outrigger canoe paddling club Keaukaha Canoe Club, the Warriors Aquatic Swim Club, and Hawaiian Swimming.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Flowers covered the shores off Guma Sakman in Susupe during the “Celebration of Life” paddle out ceremony for CNMI Hall of Famer and Saipan Swim Club co-founder Jean Sakovich last Sunday.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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<\/p>\n

People lined the shore, flowers covered the water, and swimmers and paddlers dotted the horizon during the “Celebration of Life” paddle out ceremony for CNMI Hall of Famer and Saipan Swim Club co-founder Jean Sakovich last Sunday at the Guma Sakman.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Jacoby Winkfield, with the microphone, and family shared their thanks and memories to\u00a0 Jean “Mrs.” Sakovich during the “Celebration of Life” paddle out ceremony last Sunday at the Guma Sakman.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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A heartfelt and beautiful \u201cCelebration of Life\u201d tribute was held for the late Saipan Swim…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-408062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408062\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}