Jan Anton Pedersen

PORTLAND – Jan Anton Pedersen was born Nov. 15, 1940 in Oslo, Norway. Jan was the eldest child of Torstein Pedersen and Oliva Hanova Alstad. He died peacefully on Feb. 4, 2026 at The Cedars in Portland with his wife and children close by. Jan died of several complications from living with Parkinson’s Disease.

Sailing became Jan’s passion at an early age when he purchased his first boat in Oslo, Norway, a wooden Snipe #5570 and ultimately became a Norwegian National Snipe Champion. He often went out sailing after school, returning late to help his parents work in the marina, resulting in learning many aspects of the marine industry. Jan also spoke proudly of rowing customers out to their boats at a young age.

From his early years Jan had a deep desire to come to the United States and become a citizen. In Norway he began an apprenticeship at a local sail loft in Oslo, Norway and became a master sailmaker. His dream of coming to the U.S. came to fruition in 1962 with the help of his Uncle Arthur and Aunt Bennie. Uncle Arthur helped him get set up with a job in Portland at a local sail loft and his Aunt Bennie took care of all the paper work necessary for him to arrive and begin learning the language and become a U.S. citizen.

Jan continued his passion for sailing and working in the marine industry in Maine, becoming a well known sailmaker. He sailed and raced in Casco Bay, raced off shore to Bermuda and Nova Scotia many times as well as sailing to the British Virgin Islands in the fall and returning the boat to Maine in the spring. He had many stories to share of his sailing adventures both with his family in early years and well into his later years until he was unable to manage sailing due to Parkinson’s Disease.

Jan is survived by his wife of 28 years, Jeri Schroeder; his daughter, Heidi Pedersen Hunt, her husband Bill, his son, Torstein Pedersen, his wife Isabelle, his son, Erik Pedersen, partner Nika Grace; his wife’s son, Al Bugbee and granddaughter Lexie Bugbee; and his sister, Mie Pedersen in Norway. He has eight loving grandchildren, Tyra, Tove, Zellie, Anders, Finn, Olin, Leif and Emma.

A celebration of life will take place in the spring.

In lieu of flowers

donations can be made to:

The Michael J. Fox Foundation @

https://give.michaeljfox.org/donation

The Cedars,

Cohen Household

650 Ocean Ave.

Portland, Maine or

hospiceofsouthernmaine.org.