Detroit Athletic Club member, avid swimmer, dies in pool while doing laps

A 57-year-old Grosse Pointe Woods man died Sunday while swimming laps at the Detroit Athletic Club, and the organization is investigating what happened.

Victor Judnic, a club member, was vice president of engineering firm HNTB, a Lawrence Technological University instructor and a former Michigan Department of Transportation employee, his online death notice said. He also was an avid swimmer, runner, biker and skier.

The club — which did not identify the person by name and is renown for its Albert Kahn designed clubhouse that was inspired by the Palazzo Farnese in Rome — told the Free Press on Thursday that a member "was found unresponsive in our pool" and emergency personnel were called immediately, while a trained staff member gave CPR until they arrived, and others "provided care and support."

The club said that the member was pronounced dead at a hospital about an hour later and "reviews of the incident are in process." And it added that "our hearts are with the member's family during this difficult time."

A message was left with the Detroit police.

Axios Detroit, which said it had obtained an email sent to members by club Executive Manager Charles Johnson, reported that the DAC told members the "club community is saddened by this traumatic loss" and "members and staff who witnessed this tragedy are feeling a mix of emotions."

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Judnic's death notice said he "died doing what he loved, swimming laps at the Detroit Athletic Club." He is survived by his wife, Anne Weertz, who also was his "soul mate and work mate;" two children, Margaret and Andrew Judnic; his mother, Antonija; two brothers, Bogdan and Walter; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation is scheduled 3-8 p.m. Friday at Peters Funeral Home at 20705 Mack Ave. in Grosse Pointe Woods with a funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church at 157 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.