Condolences...
Please send Skater’s obituaries to our newsletter or e-mailed to jferreira@snet.net Last Updated 10/07/2007
Joseph Burke passed away suddenly on August 24 when he became very ill. He died while being transported via ambulance to the hospital. Joe and Ellie Burke were husband and wife, skating partners, national champions, and partners in business. Silver City Skateland has been their home for recreational and competitive skaters for many years. Joe also owned and operated a construction company. Joe will be missed by many in the roller skating community. He will always be known for his many contributions to the northeast region.
Joseph Burke was the beloved husband of Eleanor Gack Burke, Dear son of Dorothy O’Sullivan Burke and her late husband Joseph. Devoted father of Lauri Smith of Plymouth, Rick Burke of Plymouth, Steven Holsberg of NH and Andrew Burke of Berkley. Loving brother of Sandra Piantoni of Brockton. Adored grandfather of Heather, Michelle, Alexandra, Matthew, Adriana, Erica, Emily, Ashley, Chloe and Thomas Joseph.
Joe Fitz died in May 2007. Joe was a supporter of the Wilbraham Skating Group. He was a long time ago artistic skater, and attended the Sunday night session for friendship and to help the group by selling 50/50 Raffle Tickets for the weekly drawing. Money from the raffle would be recycled into a treasury to help pay for the organ session on skate nights when attendance was too low. Joe worked at this task for 8 years every Sunday night! Joe will be missed by his friends in the Wilbraham Sunday Night Group.
Adrienne
Mudford died at her home in Coronation Rd, Papatoetoe, New Zealand July 31,
2007 after a fire was discovered at her home.
Bill and Adrienne Mudford won third place in the
free pairs at the 1957 world championships. Chief Fire Safety Officer
Murray Binning said the fire was thought to be accidental.
Luella
G. Scollo, 71, longtime East Hartford
resident, died Monday, April 16, 2007 at Hartford Hospital with her loving
family by her side. John
and Luella met at the Hartford Skating Palace in Hartford, CT in 1954. In 1955
John was drafted and they corresponded while he served his country in Fort Dix,
then in Italy. He returned in 1957 and the rest is history. They skated
socially until 1959 and then joined the Holiday Skating Club in Middletown,
Connecticut.
Luella was the beloved wife of John Scollo. Born in Rangley, ME on December 10, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Barbara Gile. Luella was a 1953 graduate of Sanford High School. She spent her professional career as an office manager for Habco in Glastonbury, retiring after many years of faithful service. Luella was a competitive roller skater for over 50 years in figures, dance, pairs and fours, as well as a coach and skating judge. She and her husband, John, were members of the Middletown Skating Club for 40 years and most recently belonged to the Wheel World Skating Club in Wallingford, Connecticut. She was Treasurer of the Northeast region of roller skating and a Treasurer for the Wallingford club as well. Luella loved to travel, whether it was for skating competitions or for her family's annual visits to national parks. She and John enjoyed their many trips, especially to Alaska. Besides her husband of 43 years, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Beverly Scollo of Dry Fork, VA; and daughter, Janet Scollo of East Hartford; four grandchildren, a sister and brother-in-law, Nedra and Jay Williams of North Ft. Myers, FL; and a brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Cynthia Gile of Sanford, ME. She also leaves many cousins, nieces and nephews; and many roller skating friends from all over.
The Roller Skating Community has lost a true ambassador and a wonderful human being. Our hearts go out to John for the loss of his beloved wife. Donations in Luella's memory may be made to the Wheel World Skating Club Memorial Fund to honor Luella's true love of skating, c/o Cherie Arsenault, 172 Woodland Drive, Cromwell, CT 06416, or to the Ron-A-Roll Skate Center, 85 South Frontage Road, Vernon, CT 06066, (attention: Jennifer Conde) for an RSA Memorial Plaque in Luella’s honor.
MILFORD, Mass - John F. "Jack" Breen Jr., 71, of Milford, died Thursday, June 7, 2007, at the Briarcliffe Manor in Johnston, R.I. He was born in Roxbury, the son of the late Rita (Reynolds) and John Breen Sr., and lived in Norwood before moving to the Milford area in 1978. He was a 1953 graduate of Malden Catholic High School. He retired in 1980 from the New England Telephone Co., where he was employed as a foreman. He owned and operated the Skate Palace in Milford until 1999. He was an avid golfer and loved playing at the Hopedale Country Club. He was a rollerskating coach for many skating champions—David Tassinari, Diane Kern, Nancy Lou Johnson, and Michael Jacques were his protégés. A Great guy and marvelous friend and coach of roller skating. Jackie was the best. May he rest in peace.
Eileen
Poole, long time rink organist, died
suddenly after suffering a heart attack. She was 60 years old. Eileen
started roller skating at the Hillside Rollerdrome located in Richmond, New York
in 1960 under the guidance of Eddie O’Neill. During that time Andy Devito was
the rink organist at Hillside. Eileen would stand near his organ room and play
her accordion trying to mimic Andy’s music. After a while, Andy let Eileen try
his Hammond organ. Eileen became an accomplished organist and played at the
Skatehaven in Lackawanna, NY during the 1960’s and at the America on Wheels
Rinks located in Levittown and Bay Shore during the 1970s. Eileen produced her
organ music for skating rinks and had a “Cat Rescue” Business. She was an avid
reader of the RS Gazette and also a sponsor of this newsletter. She was still
playing her music and recording right up until her sudden passing. “Madame
Poole” will be missed by all who knew and loved her. May she rest in peace.
Ron
Jellse: March 2, 1937-March 26, 2007. The skating world was
shocked to hear of the passing of Ron Jellse. Gloria Manning wrote,
"Today is filled with sadness for the passing of Legendary Artistic Coach,
Ron Jellse. Information I have obtained said he had a heart attack
while he slept last night. Truly he made a difference not only to many
children but adults as well. Ron devoted his entire being to the sport of
roller skating and was dedicated to those he taught. His knowledge of
artistic roller skating was not only shared with his students but has been
passed on to others through numerous seminars. Ron was not only a teacher
but he was also a student as he was always seeking new and exciting methods
and knowledge of our sport. He was relentless in his pursuit to perfection.
Yes, the world is different because he was important to so many. Although he has completed his journey through life he will long be remembered through his students as they continue performing in his memory and may pass it on for many years to come. As years pass we will not be able to mention roller skating without the inclusion of the name Ron Jellse. As long as there is roller skating, Ron will live on. As his email address stated...Ron has "Rolled-on". I believe if there is skating in heaven he is already hard at work.
Thomas Pond died November 2006 after a long illness. Tom was a member of the Stratford Skating Club in Long Beach, Ct, he was president for 6 years, and a competitive skater winning the State Championship with his wife Martha during the 1970s. He was also a member of the Wheel World Breakfast Club since its opening. Even after his strokes, Tom would still visit the skating rinks and was a regular at the Wheel World Friday morning Breakfast Club. He would watch the skaters, visit, and sometimes even play chess with a few of his friends in the snack area. He will be missed by all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
Donald
Andrew Mounce, a giant from roller
skating’s past, has died at the age of seventy-nine. Donald was just 19 years
old when he won the first Roller Skating World Championships held at the then
new America on Wheels National Arena in Washington D.C. in December 1947. The
National Arena cost 1 million dollars back then. It was a showplace for the
first World championships. Donald won gold in the Senior Men’s figure and free
style. Karl Peter of Switzerland was second and Ferdinand Leemens of Belgium
was 3rd. Donald represented the famous Earl Van Horn Figure and
Dance Club located in Mineola, New York.
Donald started skating when he was nine years old on the asphalt streets of Brooklyn, New York in steel wheeled street skates. It was the favorite outdoor sport and recreation of practically every kid, boy or girl, in New York. Soon he started skating indoors at the Bay Ridge Rink in Brooklyn. Soon, he became a regular. Then a momentous event occurred which was to shape his future destiny. The New York Journal American Newspaper sponsored a mammoth roller skating carnival at the famed Madison Square Garden Arena. Donald watched the skaters in the show along with 15,000 other patrons. He was impressed. He noticed that most of the best skaters came from the Mineola Rink. He decided that the Mineola would become is rink to skate at and learn figure skating—the year was 1941. The rink owner Earl Van Horn took Donald under his wing and gave him lessons. Soon after, in 1943, Donald would have lessons with Jean White Van Horn. Jean became Donald’s coach from then on.
In 1942, Donald placed 2nd at Nationals in Novice Mens. In 1943 he placed 2nd in Junior Mens. 1944 he placed 1st in Junior Mens. 1945 Donald placed 2nd in Senior Mens and 1st in Senior Fours with partners Walter Bickmeyer, June Henrich and Theresa Kelsch. 1946 he placed 2nd in Senior Mens. After all these placements…1947 would be his year! Donald won the gold in Senior Mens and then, he became the first World Champion at the first World Meet!
Donald always had a few second places. He didn’t mind because he skated against his good friend, fellow Mineola club member and another one of the world’s greatest skaters—Walter Bickmeyer. From the time Walter started skating in the late 1930s until he retired in 1946, Walter was never beaten on any figure or freestyle event. Walter’s coach was Eddie O’Neill. Donald may have felt that he was in the shadow of his friend Walter, but in 1947 it was Donald’s star that was shining.
From an interview after winning the World Championship, Donald stated, “Skating against Walter helped me immeasurably and I think it was of great help to him, too. Whenever he learned something new, I just had to learn the same thing. And, when I learned something, Walter had to follow suit. In other words, we pushed one another. We both enjoyed the rivalry very much.” The general pattern of a Bickmeyer-Mounce contest was…Bickmeyer ahead in figures, with a nip-and-tuck free skating battle to follow.
After winning the World Championship, Donald became a skating professional at the Mineola Rink where he taught until 1957. Donald was in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s. Later in his life he moved to Eugene, Oregon. He married and became a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Bradford, Massachusetts: Steven J Sardella, Susan Fraser's dad, died yesterday at the age of 89. Many older folks know Steve who skated and did the dances at sessions at Skateland on Tuesday nights and Friday mornings until very recently. Sue Fraser is Fred Dufault's life partner. Fred used to skate at Saugus with the old crowd from Medford and Revere.
Shane Michael Lashua, 26 of York, PA, son of Jerry and Diane Lashus of Rockport died Sunday October 8, 2006 of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Shane was many things to many people and always gave his all to whatever he did. At the age of 8 he became a competitive artistic roller skater. While growing up in California, he was a champion in many divisions and crowned his career in 1998 in Bogota, Columbia by becoming the World Class Pairs Champion with his partner Julianne Hines. Shane was truly loved by everyone who knew him. His personality made people comfortable and at ease. He was equally comfortable with a crowd of children or a crowd of adults. He especially loved children and working with children. He coached roller skaters, roller hockey, ice skaters and ice hockey. As an adult Shane decided to make his hobby a career and movedx to Pennsylvania to go to school to become a motorcycle mechanic. To support himself he continued his love of skating and worked at an ice rink. He continued to work there full time even after graduation from York Technical Institute and working full time as a motorcycle mechanic at Adamson’s Susquehanna Cycles in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Shane was proud of his skills as a zamboni driver. Shane packed an enormous amount of living into 26 years. As a competitive skater he traveled all over the world. He made new friends everywhere he went. He was never afraid to try new things, go to new places or meet new people. Shane will be missed by his family, friends, and the roller skating community.
Leroy Dozier, Jr., 78 years old. Of Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, died December 1, 2006. Beloved husband of Helen Berry Dozier, formerly of Waltham and Boston. Father of Paul Dozier, Karen Loomer and Laura Caissie all of Manchester by the Sea, MA. Grandfather of Meredith and Stephen Dozier, Leslie Loomer and Michael Caissie.
Clayton Smith, Dance Diagram Historian, passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2006. Clayton was a member of the Mineola Skating Club during the 1950s. During the late 1990s he began a quest that would continue the rest of his life, Clayton decided to collect ice and roller skating dance diagrams to be put into one collection for historical purposes. Clayton published 2 books of dance diagrams and was working on the 3rd and 4th books when he died. His work will live on as will his memory in the sport of roller skating.
John R Pomery, Sr, 77 of New Fairfield, CT, husband of the late Margrette Edgett Pomery, died at the West Haven Veteran’s Hospital, West Have, CT on Friday November 17, 2006, following a brief illness. John was born in Danbury, January 4, 1929, son of the late Charles and Gladys Pomery. John was a retired master furniture refinisher and cabinet maker. HE had served with the 509th Bombardier Division of the US Army Air Corps during WWII as a flight mechanic and had work on adapting the “Enola Gay” so that it would be able to carry the atomic bomb that was dropped in 1945 on Japan. John was an avid roller skater and had received numerous awards and trophies for his roller skating skills. John is survived by 5 loving children, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and his friends from the roller skating community. May he rest in peace.
Charles B Silver, 77, dies of total body system failure and Alzheimer disease on Monday, November 6, 2006. He was born March 13, 1929 in Detroit, MI, moved to Auburndale, FL in 1993 from Warren, Mi. During the late 1940s he coached the Speed team from Michigan to win a National Championship. Charles, known also as Chuck, was a competitive speed skater as well as playing roller hockey on an international team. After retiring from Ford Motor Company, he became very active in Artistic roller skating—serving as an official. Charles and his wife, Louise were very active in the Southern Region. Louise has judged in many places all around the country as well as at the National Championships. He is survived by his wife, Louise, and daughter, Ann Bullock. He will be missed by those of us in the roller skating community.
George Emrick, II, who was born in Pennsylvania on March 22, 1956 and passed away on September 19, 2006 at the age of 50. We will remember him forever. Family, friends, and the skating community mourn his passing and celebrate his life. George was our friend; he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a skater, and a coach. His last days were spent in the company of his friends and family. George moved to south Florida in 1996. In 1998 he returned to his childhood sport of roller skating and started a new chapter, “roller skating at the Palace in Lantana, Florida.” At the 2000 Roller Skating National Championships, George won his first National Roller Skating placement in Solo Dance and a bronze medal in team dance with partner Tina Jackson. In 2001, George was awarded the 2000 Southern Region Skater of the Yard Award. Then at the 2001 National George and Tina took the Gold in team Dance—this was a childhood dream come true for both skaters. We know he has gone to a better place.
Joseph Comeau has passed away after a long illness. He skated at the Skateland in Haverhill, Hi-Hat in Lowell and the Wal-Lex Rollerway in Waltham before moving to New Jersey.
The Skating Community has lost 2 dedicated people on the Ill Fated Flight that crashed on takeoff from the Kentucky Airport... Mike Finley age 52, owner of 3 rinks in Kentucky and his Manager Hollie Gilbert, age around 40, were passengers on that plane. Nellie Lillie from the RSA Convention reports this very sad news. She said Hollie leaves a 15-year-old daughter and Mike Finley leaves two teenagers and his wife.
Carolyn Elias has passed away. Carolyn lived in Connecticut where she was a professional roller skating teacher for many years. In 1958 she won the USARSA Senior Dance title at the America on Wheels in Baldensburg, Maryland with her partner Bill Thelgen. She and Bill traveled to Levittown Arena in New York to take skating lessons from Gladys Werner. It worked for them--they won! In her later years, Carolyn attended contests and also skated at local area rinks that held organ artistic skate nights. She visited "The Rink" in Montvale, New Jersey many times. She will be missed by the skating community.
In Memory of Jerry Nista…Jerry Nista passed away in Temecula, California. Jerry started roller skating in the 1940s at the Empire Rollerdrome in Brooklyn, New York. He then represented the Gay Blades Rink in New York City. ; He was a true showman and loved freestyle skating. He toured the United States in the early 1950s for the Raybestos Skate Wheel Company of Bridgeport, CT. Jerry Nista presented on of his final exhibitions before army induction (Oct. 16) and if ever he had an “on” day this was certainly it. Called upon for encore after encore, he asked for contributions for the “Breath of Life” campaign in exchange for his final try. He was successful in performing what is believed to be the first “triple flip-jump” before the hundreds of witnesses who promptly raised the Wal-Lex roof a few inches from its previous position. Asked afterward as to his feelings of the achievement, Jerry remarked, "I'm going into the army so what did I have to lose?" Unquestionably if the military service had not broken Jerry’s roller skating occupation, he would have made a record which could have been a long, long time in being unbroken.
Later in life Jerry settled in California and operated the Skate-arama in Downey, CA. during the 1970s. Jerry was featured in the 1978 Disco Book, "Keep On Rollin'" Jerry's son, Brett, who was two at that time is shown taking a lesson from his father. In 1975 Jerry married Elayne. Elayne was the 1971 Senior American Dance Champion. Together they ran a most successful rink for many years. Jerry will be missed by skaters on the East and West Coast as well as by the entire roller skating community.
In
Memory of Paul Zukowski.
Another great roller skating from the golden past is gone but not forgotten.
Florida's Paul Zukowski has died from a brain tumor. Paul was an Icon in the
USARSA Association of roller skating during the late 1950s and 60s. Paul's
first National Championships Senior win was in 1958. He won the Senior Men's
Singles title again in 1960, 63 & 64. At that time figures were required along
with the Free Style. Paul also teamed up with Diane Ludwig, to win the Senior
Pairs event in 1958, 60 & 61. Plus he won the Senior Fours event with George
Schmitt, Barbara Jablonski & Diane Ludwig in 1958, 59 & 60. Paul went on to
teach skating and owned a roller rink in Maryland.
79-year-old Marie Durnye, wife of John Durnye, has died from heart disease. The Roller Skating community has suffered a great loss. John and Marie met skating at the Perth Amboy Arena in the early 1940s. Marie took lessons with Edward O’Neil. In 1958, Ed and Marie opened the Roller Magic in South Amboy. This was to be the first of eight rink owned by this couple. Marie worked in the office at the South Amboy rink. Besides her husband, Marie leaves behind son Michael and daughter in law Sandi—who operate the Waterbury, CT Roller Magic; daughter Jean—manager of the South Amboy Roller Magic; and daughter Ronnie. Marie loved roller skating, the people in the sport and going to the RSA Conventions with her husband John. We in the roller skating community want to send our sincere condolences to the Durnye Family.
Kyle Peck from Tinley Park, Illinois was struck by a speeding car and killed instantly in Rome, Italy shortly after leaving the arena where his brother, Anthony Peck, a representative for the USARS Junior World Figure Skating Team, had just placed third in the Junior Pairs competition at the World Figure Skating Championships. Members of the Peck family were walking back to their hotel when a driver ran a red light at Christopher Columbus Boulevard, a wide intersection just outside central Rome, and hit Kyle. Kyle was an accomplished skater in his own right, a National Champion who won a gold medal in Juvenile A Pairs at the 2005 USARS National Figure Skating Championships in Pensacola, FL.
Our roller skating community joins together to pray for the Peck Family during their time of sorrow and loss. May Kyle rest in peace.
In Memory of
Gene Cox,
By Jim
Wells, November
16, 2005,
Reprinted from the USARS Website
On Sunday, November 13, 2005, Gene Cox passed on. We all lost a very special friend. The sport of Artistic Roller Skating lost a dedicated, loyal, hard working official. Gene served as Chairman of the Membership and Eligibility Committee for many years. He served as the Chief Referee of the USA Roller Sports Artistic National Championships. Those of us in the North Central Region had the good fortune to have Gene, who lived in Kansas City, along with his wife Robbie, as our Chief Referee and Robbie as our Chief Tabulator for more than twenty years. Gene served as a member of the USA Roller Sports Board of Directors and later as a Vice President. He is also responsible for most of the Dance diagrams in the Artistic events Rule Books. He was one of the most sought after Judges in the country.
Gene’s many contributions were recognized as he was presented with various USA Roller Sports honors. In 1981 he was honored as the recipient of the M. M. Shattuck Amateur of the Year Award. In 1986 he was bestowed with membership in the Distinguished Service Hall of Fame and in 1998, Life Membership in USA Roller Sports. Proper recognition was culminated in 2002 as he received the Gordon B. Van Roekel Lifetime Achievement Award.
Gene’s professional career for more than twenty-eight years was as an engineer with the Butler Building Corporation. Many of our rinks today are buildings manufactured by the Butler Corporation. Gene and Robbie did not have children of their own, however many skaters and their parents dearly loved Gene and Robbie and considered them part of their families.
Gene was a truly beautiful human being. Our love for him shall live in our hearts forever.
Richard Gaetke of Plainville, Connecticut died Tuesday, November 1. He was 71 years old. Richard was born in ST. Paul, Minneapolis and was employed by CNC Machine in Newington. He passion and pastime was roller skating. Richard made many friends during his travels to the many artistic skating session. He attended sessions in Waterbury & Wallingford, CT; Wilbraham, Ma; and many sessions in the New Jersey area.
He is survived by a daughter, Lisa Bourgeois, a son, James Gaetke, a brother, Bruce Gaetke, 2 sisters, Maggie Hadel and Judith Brunger, and his many friends in the roller skating community. We will miss you, Dick, but we know you’re doing the Harris Tango up in Heaven!
Karl Norbury, 68, of Fairborn, Ohio died at his home of melanoma skin cancer on Wednesday, June 20, 2005. The roller skating community lost a lifetime friend and the country lost a decorated hero. Karl began his long skating career in Elwood, IN at the age of 11. Shortly after Karl started to skate, his girlfriend of almost four years (Gloria) began skating, where they competed together, winning numerous awards throughout the state and region. Of course those of you who know Karl and Gloria, this was the beginning of a lifetime commitment to each other and to the sport of roller skating. What a wonderful life they had together, traveling the world in the Air Force and giving their knowledge of skating to anyone interested.
Karl joined the Air Force after graduating from Ball State Teachers College in Muncie, IN. While traveling around the United States and the World, he was always able to find a local skating rink and become involved in the local skating family. Not always able to compete, but always able to enjoy himself, then eventually getting his children involved while they were stationed in Louisiana at Barksdale AFB. While doing a tour in Okinawa, Japan, Karl taught both artistic and speed skating to the local Japanese as well as people from the local military bases.
In 1985, after serving 24 years he retired from the Air Force with the rank of Major. His career with the Air Force included several tours in the Vietnam War as a navigator for KC-135 tankers and a navigator/radar navigator for B-52s, where he earned 10 Air Medals and 2 Distinguished Flying Cross Medals. The Vietnam War cost him several years away from his family spending time in Okinawa, Guam Thailand and other Southeast Asia Countries. It was during this time; spending so many hours in the direct sunlight that could have begun the course of contracting skin cancer. Eventually he returned to the states to spend time with his family and moving from B-52’s to the Air Base in Fairborn, OH where he had found his skating family at the Skyborn Skating Rink, working with Joe and Nancy Nemanich.
After his retirement, everyone thought his career with the military was over. But no, not Karl, he returned to the Education Training Programs as a Civil Service Employee and for 20 years spent time helping with the education programs in the Air Force in Fairborn. During this time, he continued to also serve his roller skating family at Skyborn, teaching, skating and also working at the rink.
Karl’s family has heard stories from friends around the globe how Karl touched everyone’s lives with his knowledge, humor and personality. You could always count on Karl to be upbeat and have a positive attitude when he walked into a room. You knew that he was going to entertain you and make you laugh.
Karl is survived by his wife of 48 years and sweetheart since the third grade, Gloria, his son Jeff Norbury and daughter Cindy Sedake and her husband Masakazu Sedake, granddaughters Yuuki, Kouji and Tomoya Sedake; Toni Norbury Martinez and husband Todd, and Tara Norbury Foster and husband Brian. Karl was also blessed to have two great-grandsons, Caleb Foster and T.J. Martinez.
Gloria remains in Fairborn and is still active with the Skyborn skating family. Many people have come and gone, Joe and Nancy Nemanich have sold the rink, but that has not stopped them from still holding their Wednesday night skate. The new owners, David and Carolyn Ripp, continue to support the Wednesday night dance night where Gloria receives love and encouragement from her extended skating family.
People saw Karl for what he was: a hero, a great father, a powerful ambassador for life, and someone who had a positive and lasting impact on anyone he met. His wife Gloria, his family and the roller skating community miss Karl.
Richard J. Gori, Sr, who proudly served in the Navy during the invasion of Normandy and later became a professional roller skaters and postal worker, died from heart failure Friday in Quincy Hospital. He was 89. , While he balanced two jobs, Mr. Gori still spent quality time with his family, said his wife, Alice (Libbey) of Squantum. “His first and last thoughts were always with his family,” she said.
Mr. Gori was born in Dorchester and attended Dorchester High School, where he was a quarter-back on the school’s first footbasll team. After graduating in 1934, he began to harness his passion for roller skating. In 1938 Mr Gori won the inaugural professional roller skating competition in Massachusetts. Also that year, he met his future wife while skating at a local rink Mr. Gori asked her to dance, and the couple became inseparable. They would have been married for 64 years next week.
Shortly after marrying in 1941, Mr. Gori enlisted in the Navy and served on the battleship USS Texas during World War II. Long after his service, his family said, he often wore a cap with a depiction of the ship on the brim and a smattering of commemorative Navy pins. During his service from 1942 to 1945, Mr. Gori was involved in three invasions, including D-Day operations on Normandy and Omaha Beach. His daughter, Elizabeth Hughey of Norwood, said she could sit and listen to her father’s war stories all night.
After he returned from the war, the couple moved to Quincy, where they would spend the next 60 years. Mr. Gori began roller skating professionally and instructing at Skateland in Bradford, Mass and the former Bal-a-rou in Somerville. In 1954, he started his 25-year career as a postal worker in South Boston, continuing to instruct young skaters at night. The sport of roller skating, which Mr. Gori followed for most of his life, is as technical and rigorous as figure skating. Mr. Gori led many students to local state and regional championships and was a lifetime member of the Roller Skating Rink Operators Association based in Lincoln, NE. His passion for roller skating also influenced his grandson, Christopher Gori of Whitman, Mass to take up the sport and become a 10 time national champion. Mr. Gori came out of semi-retirement to give his grandson skating tips. After retiring from the Postal Service in 1979, he became a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees headquartered in Alexandria, VA. He also was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus in Quincy, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in South Boston, and the Disabiled American Veterans headquartered in Cold Spring, Kentucky. Besides roller skating, Mr. Gori enjoyed bingo and fishing. He never missed a Patriots game and was a big fan of football player Dough Flutie.
He had worked in the shoe industry his entire career. He had worked for Thom McCan in New London, CT and Worcester, MA. He had also worked for Bee Bee Shoe of Manchester as National Sales Manager for 20 years. He had worked for Sears Home Improvements in Manchester for 10 years, until his retirement in 1998. In his retirement, he continued his life long volunteerism with organizations including Muscular Dystrophy Association, Manchester South Little League, and most recently, the New Hampshire Golf Association. He had many hobbies including golfing with his grandsons, gardening, reading building doll houses, traveling, and especially meeting and helping people. He has been a Manchester resident for the past 38 years.