On the morning of September 16,
I learned that
we had lost
my friend and fellow
Colorado Masters swimmer, Janet Sachs.
I first met Janet through her daughter, Ellie Najjar
, also a Colorado Masters
swimmer. Janet and I were both members of the Colorado contingent at Masters Nationals in Omaha in 2012, in Indianapolis in 2013, and in Santa Clara in 2014.
But it wasn't until this past April when we both traveled to San Antonio for Masters Nationals that I felt like I really got to know Janet.
We spent some time together over the weekend
in San Antonio, but by Sunday, we were two of the few remaining Colorado swimmers. Janet asked me for my event information and she was at the end of my lane cheering for me for each of my events that day. I so appreciated her support as I had struggled at the meet.
But Janet remained upbeat and positive.I couldn't believe how much energy she had for a woman in her 70s. She competed in six events over the course of the meet, placing top five in all of them, and she was the National Champion in her age group for the 50 backstroke.
After the meet ended, we went to the airport together. We had some time before our planes left so we went to a restaurant and she treated me to a celebratory cocktail. We chatted about life and enjoyed each other's company. There hadn't been any prices on the menu and the cocktails ended up being ridiculously expensive.I offered to give her money to help pay for mine, but she refused.
She was on her way to San Francisco to help take care of her new baby granddaughter, but I promised to take her out to the Ritz for a "real" cocktail when she returned to Colorado. Sadly, we never got that chance.
Janet fell ill in July and she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She never recovered. I saw her about
two weeks ago at Denver Hospice. We talked about
swimming and she asked me why I didn't go to long course nationals. I told her maybe next year. She said she didn't think she would be going to any more swim meets, but she joked that she would be watching me swim "from above or down below."
Janet was an inspiration to me. In the past few years, she set Colorado Masters records in the 75-79 age group in the 50 free and 50 back (short course yards) and in the 50 back (long course meters). She lived her life to the fullest and I canonly hope that I can follow in her example. I will miss spending time with her both on and off the pool deck.