Stephen Michael Janovsky

Stephen Michael Janovsky
HARLINGEN, TX. -Stephen Michael Janovsky was born October 10, 1955 and passed away December 7,2007. He was born to Stephen Valentine and Rosalyn Janovsky. He was raised by a loving grandmother, Grandma Monahan.
Survived by his lifetime partner, Mary Jo Bogatto Janovsky, their children Robert Duane Moss and Michelle Maree Moss. Grand children Kylie, Ma Kayla, and Kinley Moss. His Uncle Jarrett Monahan, sister Cheryl Janovsky and her children, cousin Robert Monahan and his children. Michael's family, friends, and extended family reach around the world. Including the crews of many vessels and most recently the vessel Holo Kai. His extended family includes the Tretts, Heldts, and Sharp families.
Mike was one of the youngest sea captains in his lifetime. He traveled the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from his teenage years up until the time he passed.
He captained sport-fishing vessels in search of the elusive blue and black marlin. He was referred to as Captain Mike, My Captain, and lovingly Pirate! In the past few years Mike was involved in the promotion of conservation of the Atlantic and Pacific marlin populations. Along with his wife and lifetime friends, Jimmy and Karen Heldt who shared a passion for protecting the marlin. They started a non-profit organization to find the reasons for the marlin decline. Traveling from the port in Galveston to Brazil, Panama, Venezuela, the British Islands, Virgin Islands, and Mexico and beyond.
OCO and HFE succeeded in placing the first Critter Cam on a marlin with National Geographic. Also working with numerous governments and universities including Texas A&M in Galveston and VIMS in Virginia.
Filming with Guy Harvey the organizations together produced a 13 part series that aired this year called Portraits of the Deep. Working with Jean Michael Cousteau, and the Cousteau's family non Profit, Oceans Futures Society, and featured in America's Under-water Treasures Book to be released in 2008.
Mike also built and operated one of the top ten gun clubs in the US with his wife and partners James and Karen Heldt. His father taught him the art of building, and anything he built would stand the test of time! Their goal was to promote gun safety, conservation, and family interaction. ``Rebuilding Family Traditions'' was a well-known logo with Rio Grande Valley Shooting Center. The club's mascots Shooter and Pookie, a white Labrador and a miniature Schnauzer accom-panied him everywhere he would go around town.
Descriptions from the one's that loved and knew him were adventurous, charismatic, quick-witted, a damn good seaman, and as with any great Pirate, some things can not be repeated!
Mike and his wife fished TIFT for 27 years long with their children, winning numerous awards, but most of all making lifetime memories.
Mike passed from this world to the next on Friday December 7th at his home in Harlingen after a long battle with heart disease.
Henry Thomas Funeral home will be taking care of the family and arrangements, and we wish to thank them for their help and compassion.
The family asks that any donations go to Alcoholics Anonymous and Alanon. In the hope that we can keep our love ones here on earth as long as possible and living to their fullest potential with family and friends.
Thank you and ``Arrrr'' as Mike would say, for your prayers and support at this time.
There will be a service held at South Point Marina located in Port Isabel, Tuesday the 11th of December 2007.
Prayers will be said on the dock before the vessels leave for a burial at sea.
Friends of Mary Jo and Mike and their children are invited to come to the Shooting Center to celebrate Mike's life. The gates will be open at 2:00 and will be open through out the evening.
Sign the guestbook at www.valleystar.com

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