The day proved to be a milestone in a man’s life.
It’s exactly a year ago. Most of the community where I live – Uxbridge, Ontario – had plenty on its plate. But for anyone who happened by the Greenbank Airport, that day, the visit of a Canadian Forces Griffon helicopter crew en route to the Arctic for manoeuvers, was a spectacle. For the man who had been preparing the airport facility for this day, the visit of Capt. Jack Wesselo and his military crew proved a shining example of his efforts rewarded.
“Nobody’s prouder of this moment than Micky Jovkovic,” his wife Dorothy said.
Micky Jovkovic died last Friday in the crash of his ultra-light aircraft, not far from the airport he loved.
Anyone even moderately knowledgeable of Uxbridge, its welcoming attitude, its enthusiasm for commerce, its unique volunteer spirit, its respect for spirituality and environment and, more recently, its enthusiasm for embracing the future, would have encountered Micky Jovkovic. He helped nurture all of those positive elements in this community. But, in the last few years, it was his love of flying and for the potential a modern, community airport, that brought out the best in him.
“It’ll be Greenbank International before long,” he told me, only half kidding, one day at his Uxbridge Travel office.
Micky Jovkovic and I met walking down an aisle, many years ago. Quite literally. During the many years I emceed the Uxbridge Fair Ambassador pageant, it would always be my job to introduce the candidates and their escorts. Nearly every year, Micky escorted one or another of the young women into the evening along with other town representatives. Micky never missed that evening, helping support youth in this community. Then, as always, he contributed a travel package as a featured prize for the winner.
Certainly, he gave in such visible ways. But Micky also contributed in less visible, but equally vital ways. He regularly offered spiritual support behind the scenes at the St. John’s facility. He proved an active member of Rotary; whenever I happened to visit the club’s Thursday breakfasts as guest speaker, I recall Micky being among those eager to volunteer for the club’s community projects and to offer a “happy buck” story (telling a good-news story and contributing a dollar to the club) at every meeting. But he could imagine no greater gift to this region, than a fully operational airport with all the modern requirements.
I have had the good fortune to meet and befriend many people with that singular passion to fly. And while I’ve never had the inclination to learn to fly myself, I’ve had the great fortune to interview and write about some of this country’s most celebrated aviators – Max Ward, Punch Dickins, Wop May, Jan Zurakowski, Shirley Render, Chris Hadfield and countless military pilots Charley Fox, Russ Bannock, Marion Orr, Richard Rohmer to name a few. Those with a passion to fly are a breed apart in the tradition of the Wright brothers, and John McCurdy of Canada’s Silver Dart fame.
They all live to fly and fly to live.
Not one visit to Micky’s travel agency went by, when he didn’t invite me out to Greenbank to join him on a flight. In fact, every time I booked a commercial flight and Micky wasn’t on the phone with an airline, he and I generally took the time to discuss local news, national politics and the state of the world. He was nothing if not engaging with his customers and his friends. He was a great listener and, when it came to showcasing Greenbank Airport to the world, its greatest booster.
That’s why last summer’s visit of Capt. Jack Weselow and his chopper crew proved such a triumphant moment for Micky. His facility had all the required technology and services to receive, maintain and return to the air, such important flyers. It was a first for Greenbank and its proud owner.<br /><br />Over the years, my research has put me in touch with another legendary flyer, whose contribution Micky Jovkovic would understand. Though he died during the Second World War, John Gillespie Magee’s legacy has survived because of his passion for flight and his ability to express it in a unique poem, “High Flight.” These are words of flight with which Micky, I’m sure, would feel right at home. A deserving tribute:
“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings…”