MaryAnn Sacharski
MaryAnn Sacharski, We’ll remember MaryAnn as a deeply caring and loving mom and wife, a loyal friend, an educator, a coach, an innovative business leader and mentor, a sports lover, an idea generator…and more. MaryAnn passed away peacefully at Straub Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii at 8:15pm on December 31, 2024, with her family by her side. MaryAnn was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was always an active participant in life, school and community, engaging in various clubs, cheerleading and volunteer work. It was hard for MaryAnn to sit still.
She earned two degrees at Michigan State University, a BA in Communications and English and a Masters in Secondary Education. She taught English at Lansing Catholic Central H.S. in Michigan and coached Varsity and JV cheerleading. She also created an annual Michigan cheer camp for statewide participants. MaryAnn moved to Honolulu in 1975 with her husband, Michael. She taught at Star of the Sea Junior High and went on to teach Academy English at Punahou School.
In these early Hawaii years, MaryAnn coached cheerleaders for St. Louis High School and also oversaw and choreographed 100 local Hula Bowl cheerleaders for several years. MaryAnn went on to coach the University of Hawaii cheer teams from 1978-1982. She was immensely proud of the UH cheerleaders who embraced the challenging four-high stunts and gymnastics that brought Hawaii cheerleading into a new era. These teams were also known for great crowd involvement and the famous, “Rain-Bows” cross-field/cross-court cheer which still resonates today. MaryAnn moved from teaching into a new career when she and a friend wrote 30 “Time Out for Health” vignettes that aired on KGMB in the early eighties. She enjoyed the script writing and acting, then decided to pursue a new career in broadcasting. Rick Blangiardi, also a former coach at the University of Hawaii, in a leap of faith, gave MaryAnn a shot at broadcast media sales at the new KHNL.
Of course, her biggest passion was selling sponsorships for the University of Hawaii sports seasons, and she learned and grew in her broadcast career from local sales to National Sales Manager, developing lifelong friendships along the way and across the country. In 2002, MaryAnn joined Oceanic Time Warner Cable as General Manager of Media Sales for its statewide operation. Adding to the mix of sales, the unique, first in the nation interactive TV platforms launched by Oceanic gave MaryAnn and her teams a glimpse into the future and the ability to educate clients on what was to come (cross-platform advertising and audience measurement which is now commonplace.)
This work was nationally recognized and provided a tremendous opportunity to learn, grow and develop. The complexity of all these “moving parts” was not for the faint of heart, and she was proud of her team’s ability to embrace and learn new technology, grow with it and create success for clients. In addition, she guided her teams to strive for and achieve national recognition including multiple years of Emmys, Telly Awards, Mixx Awards and Cable Industry awards.
She was always very proud of her team of true achievers and for the realized benefits passed on to clients. Over the years, MaryAnn served on numerous boards and committees, some of which include The Salvation Army, Ahahui Koa Anuenue, the Hawaii Bowl, Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, the Hawaii International Film Festival, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences-Interactive/Digital/New Media, University of Hawaii Letterwinners and the University of Hawaii Alumni Association, There are no humans on this earth more loved by MaryAnn than her husband, Mike, and her son, Aaron—the true focus of her daily life. Every season, every special event, every simple day-to-day thing, she made special because it was for us. Despite MaryAnn’s move to her heavenly family, she is still with us. MaryAnn will be here every day and we will feel her hugs and know exactly what she would say! MaryAnn is survived by her husband, Michael, her son, Aaron and niece Christin Blazekovic (Cape Coral, FL) and her nephews, Bob Blazekovic Jr. (Port Charlotte, FL) and Steve Blazekovic (Miami, FL), brothers-in-law David (The Villages FL) and Will (Flushing, MI).
MaryAnn was preceded in death by her parents, Steve (from Zrinska, Croatia) and Emelia Blazekovic, (from Michigan), and brother, Robert (Bob) Blazekovic (Fort Myers, FL.), sister-in-law, Olene Blazekovic (Fort Myers, FL.) Memorial Mass and Blessing of the Ashes will be at 11:00am February 14, 2025, at Mary, Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, 4470 Aliikoa St. (Kahala) in Honolulu.
A Celebration of Life will commence at 12:00 Noon in the parish reception hall next to the Church. A private, family inurnment service will be held at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kane’ohe at a later date. MaryAnn has requested donations in her name be made to Mary, Star of the Sea School.
Donations may be mailed to, Mary, Star of the Sea School, 4469 Malia St , Honolulu, HI 96821. Arrangements Provided By: Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary
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