1961 Sabena Crash Feature

Found some snippets of most of the skaters. We are still trying to post the national performances for all of them! Help if you can. I have broken this apart into 3 pieces so I can post as many names as possible for now! February 14th, 1961

Bradley Lord
Greg Kelley
Doug Ramsey


Laurence Owen
Rhode Lee Michelson
Stephanie Westerfeld

Maribel Owen and Dudley Richards
Ila Ray and Ray Handley
Laurie and William Hickox


Diane Sherbloom and Larry Pierce
Donna Leigh Carrier and Roger Campbell
Patricia Dean and Robert Dineen

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• figure
• skating
• 1961
• US
• nationals
• Sabena
• crash
• Lord
• Owen
• Sherbloom
• Richards
• Laurence
• Maribel
• Michelson
• Pierce
• Carrier
• laurie
• william
• hickox

[krunchtar]

Keep your eyes open for the introduction of the movie RISE which is a tribute to US Figure Skating & the legacy that lives on in the face of the 1961 tragedy. My father was Danny Ryan who was the coach of Diane Sherbloom & Larry Pierce& also won 2 bronze medals previously for the US. My Mom - RoseAnne Ryan -widowed w/ 5 children (2 weeks -6 yrs old) continued to coach along w/Ron Ludington & helped to carry forward the training & traditions of my father & so many of our coaches who perished.

[k9henrydog]

@krunchtar Thanks for the information! Sounds like a great project. Perhaps you should consider making a video about Danny. I would be happy to place it here in our PLAYLISTS. best wishes

[reffy1000]

Donna Lee was my 2nd cousin. I was small when she died. I never had the chance to meet her. We have numerous still photographs. But this is the 1st time I ever saw her skate. My great uncle, her father had the daunting task of going to the crash site to reclaim the bodies. Her parents said that some of her final words were"when I come back from the Olympics, you'll never have to worry about money again Unfortunately, the money was from a lawsuit settlement. Thanks for posting

[k9henrydog]

Thanks for sharing this insight, although it is sad! I hope you have seen the entire 1961 Nationals performance. I have it in my PLAYLIST for all the 1961 skaters. best wishes

[k9henrydog]

I have a question about her partner David Campbell. He is buried in the next town over from my homeplace in Kentucky, Providence (I'm from Earlington). What was his story? Was he a student at Harvard and found your cousin? I find it very unusual for a boy from the Western Kentucky coalfields to become an international skater??? Do you know anything about their teaming? best wishes

[eduardalet]

My father was the Aircraft engineer for the flight , which left from JFK. He was cleared after two weeks when the cause was found to be a runaway horizontal stabilizer , a defect they didn't know about all boeing 707 had to have horizontal stab brake handle installed , it sometimes happens with swept wing aircraft.

[k9henrydog]

Thanks for the additional information. I had never read the actual cause of the crash. There were many rumors of spies and sabotage......glad to know it was just a horrible accident. best wishes

[kkhhaalliid1]

Here the truth Come

[faeryquene]

@krunchtar My heart goes out to you and yours-all these years later. God Bless.

[krunchtar]

RISE will be shown on February 17th across the Nation. Check to see if it is at a theater near you. Go to the USFSA website for more information and if interested, donate to the Memorial Fund to support our future Olympians!

[oremus006]

@krunchtar

I took lessons from your dad at the Winter Club of Indianapolis. He was a wonderful coach. I still miss him.

Melinda

[abharo11]

Noo :(