Figure Skating Tragedies 2008

Only half of 2008 has passed, but so far, it has been a sad year in the ice skating world. In this past week, two great men in figure skating died suddenly. Olympian Roy Wagelein was found dead in his home in Phoenix and ice dancer, Jim Yorke, died in Los Angeles. Over the Memorial Day Weekend, Valerie Gendernalik, the 25 year old daughter of the Russian born artist and figure skating coach, Larisa Gendernalik, was murdered in her home in Colorado. Werner Groebli, known as Mr. Frick, the legendary ice show comedian, died in April. U.S. National Men's Figure Skating Champion, Christopher Bowman, known as "Bowman the Showman," died in January. Also, Herb Kaplan, the man that founded the New England Amateur Skating Foundation, passed away on June 14.

_{Valerie Gendernalik, the 25 year old daughter of Larisa Gendernalik, was murdered in May of 2008
Gendernalik Personal Photo Collection}