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Maribel Vinson Owen

1961 U.S. World Team professional

Maribel Vinson Owen, 49, was perhaps the most influential figure in the history of U.S. figure skating until her passing. Exhibiting a strong personality and a fearless nature, she was one of the most decorated U.S. female skaters in the 20th century and was one of its most successful coaches. Born in Winchester, Mass., she was the only child of Thomas and Gertrude Vinson, who were both skaters themselves. Taught by Willie Frick at the Skating Club of Boston, she won several U.S. ice dancing championships; the U.S. pairs championship six times, with partners Thornton Coolidge and George E. B. Hill; and the U.S. ladies championship nine times - a record that was equaled 68 years later by Michelle Kwan. She retired from competition in 1937 with one World bronze medal, one World silver medal and one Olympic bronze medal. After she married Canadian champion Guy Owen, they performed in ice shows together and taught in St. Paul, Minn., Berkeley, Calif., and Boston. Maribel's students included six-time U.S. champion Gretchen Merrill, 1956 Olympic champion Tenley Albright and 1960 Olympic pairs bronze medalists Ron and Nancy Ludington. She also taught her two daughters, 20-year-old Maribel Owen Jr., the 1961 U.S. pairs champion with Dudley Richards; and 16-year-old Laurence Owen, the 1961 U.S. and North American champion. A Radcliffe graduate, Maribel was the author of three books on figure skating, the first female sports writer for The New York Times and an AP correspondent. By 1961, she had taught more than 4,000 students.

Bio written by Patricia Shelley Bushman, author of Indelible Tracings.