Today the skating world lost a treasure. Tony Howard. Tony .. or Coach Tony as I called him back in 1968 when I started skating. Tony was my coach throughout my 3 years of childhood skating in Corte Madera, CA at Raydine's Ice Rink. Tony taught me all the basics through single jumps as well as figures done on "patch" at O'Dark Thirty before our freestyle sessions. He was firm but patient but would call you out for skating too stiffly or not pushing enough or extending your free leg .. all the way across the ice.
After returning to the ice at age 52 and on a visit to the Bay Area in 2014 I was able to arrange a "reunion" of sorts at the rink in Oakland where, much to my surprise he was still coaching a few days a week in his 80's We sat and chatted and reminisced about my brief childhood years of skating and afterwards he said .."well did you bring your skates?" and he proceeded to give me an impromptu lesson from the boards. I wish I had that video!
After that we exchanged letters and Christmas cards several times and I really cherish them. He was an artist too and asked me if he had ever drawn me one of his "Micky Mouse" drawings. I couldn't remember if he had so he drew me a new one and sent it with a letter. My heart melted.
Thank you Coach Tony for the gifts you gave so many on and off the ice. We will never forget you.
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