York father dies, found in water near town dock. Remembered as 'life of party.'
YORK, Maine — A local father and husband was mourned this week after he was found unresponsive in the water at York Harbor Sunday.
Michael Jancovic, 49, of York, was called the "life of the party" by his wife, Jennifer, and loved ones Monday as they prepared for a celebration of life event in his honor to be held Friday. A father of four, he was found floating near Town Dock 1 by Harris Island Road at 10:43 a.m. by two young males who had arrived to go fishing, according to York police.
Officers arrived within three minutes and performed CPR on Jancovic before transporting him to York Hospital. There, York police Lt. Luke Ernenwein said Jancovic was pronounced dead. Jancovic was pulled from the water by York Sgt. Jon Rogers, who used a dinghy boat to bring him to shore according to police. Rogers was assisted by officer Martin Monaco, members of the York Village Fire Department and York Ambulance.
Jancovic’s wife Jennifer described him as “larger than life” who loved his children, fishing, scuba diving, Jimmy Buffett and celebrating Christmas. He worked in the medical field as a regional sales manager for the company Cerapedics.
Jennifer Jancovic remembered meeting him in 1997 when she took a scuba diving lesson from him.
“We immediately had a connection, the minute I met him,” she said. “Almost like love at first sight.”
Michael Jancovic was at the harbor that day to change the bilge pump on their 19-foot whaler, according to his wife. She said she was at work at York Hospital at the time when she got a message from her children that police had knocked on their door. They said the officers were there to check out some complaints, which Jennifer later learned was only said to keep from telling them what happened.
An officer eventually arrived at York Hospital to talk to her, she said. She answered questions about her husband’s whereabouts that day before they told her what had happened.
The cause of death is still being investigated by the Maine Medical Examiner’s Office. York police said the death was not believed to be suspicious. Jennifer Jancovic believes her husband may have suffered a medical event while at the harbor.
She said the support from families and friends has been strong since her husband died. His celebration of life will take place at Lobster in the Rough from 3 to 7 p.m.
“So many offers to reach out if you need anything,” Jancovic said. “Tremendous.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York man found dead in water at York Harbor ME mourned
