Sarah JANECEK

1960 - 2018

Born December 27, 1960 Died January 12, 2018. Preceded in death by her parents, Dr. James and Jeanette (Gausman) Janecek and husband Bill Scott. Survived by sister Karen Hoyt, brother Jim Janecek and Christine, Bill, Sarah and Mark Scott, niece Dani Janecek, nephews Jimmy Janecek, Ryan and Christopher Hoyt. Sarah died of a massive septic infection in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro while vacationing in South America.

Raised in New Brighton, Sarah was class president at Irondale High school, then graduated from the University of Minnesota, where she also earned her law degree. After interning in Washington, DC for Congressman Bill Frenzel, Sarah went to work for Sen. Rudy Boschwitz as his deputy press secretary. Sarah returned to Minnesota to launch her career as a lobbyist. She developed a reputation at the Capitol for her shrewd advice, quick wit and willingness to build bridges and work long hours.

With her DFL-leaning partner Wy Spano, she was the Republican partner of lobbying firm Spano & Janecek. As the intrepid editor of Politics in Minnesota, she provided Minnesota’s political and public policy leaders reliable doses of political news and analysis. As publisher of eight editions of Politics in Minnesota: The Directory, she collected and distributed vital information about the legislature, lobbyists and elected officials. After selling her company, Sarah became an independent lobbyist, legal advisor, GOP strategist and political analyst.

For the past 30 years, Sarah has been sought out by local and national print and broadcast journalists for her insightful and pithy comments and opinions on the Minnesota political scene.

Sarah was a fierce and constant promoter of other women, giving a hand up to newcomers to the Capitol, regardless of political affiliation. Especially early in her career, she was one of the rare women in the room. She held her own with men, but she was a girlfriends’ girlfriend.

Sarah took delight in being a contradiction—a staunch conservative, she loved her Lowry Hill neighborhood, one of the most liberal precincts in the US, where, as the daughter and widow of servicemen, she proudly flew the stars and stripes. Sarah equally appreciated life at the cabin on Moon Lake and the urban pleasures of Uptown; reading trashy bestsellers and cerebral-stretching volumes of political theory; listening to A Prairie Home Companion and Prince; planning a picnic on the pontoon and an exquisite meal at the St Paul Grille. She loved the snow but always kept a bit of springtime through the winter, forcing bulbs and making frequent gifts of the living flowers she tended.

No matter the weather, Sarah and her labrador Louie made daily visits to the Lake of the Isles Dog Park. She loved gardening, gadgets, garlic, gourmet cooking and her pack of loyal girlfriends, who were her traveling companions and confidantes.

Sarah’s powerful intellect was balanced by her insatiable curiosity and she embraced the world through travel, from a post-college backpacking trip through Europe to her final adventure to South America. In the final photographic image of Sarah, snapped days before her death, she is soaring in a chairlift over the Andes, her hair a bright halo as she offers a smile and a wave.

Sarah will be remembered on Feb 22, 2018 at Salem Covenant Church, 2655 5th St NW, New Brighton. Visitation 10-11 followed by a celebration of life at 11, with luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association for a memorial in the community she loved so dearly, bit.ly/2EKM4Tu, or checks to LHNA, PO Box 3978, Minneapolis, MN 55403, stipulating “Sarah Janecek fund.”