Maribel Owen
Encyclopedia
Maribel Yerxa Owen was an American pair skater. With partner Dudley Richards
, she was the 1961 U.S. national champion
and represented the United States at the 1960 Winter Olympics
, where they placed 10th. She was the daughter of Maribel Vinson and Guy Owen
and the sister of Laurence Owen
. Maribel Owen died died in the crash of Sabena Flight 548
en route to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships.
. She was named after her mother, and was known as "Maribel, Jr." or "Mara". Her younger sister Laurence was also a champion skater, and they were both coached by their mother.
Owen began to skate at the age of 2 years and 9 months. At the time the Owen family was living in Berkeley, California
and Maribel competed in singles competition representing the St. Moritz Ice Skating Club. When the Owens moved to the Boston area, she formed a pair team with Charles Foster (later president of the United States Figure Skating Association
). In 1956, when she age 15, she and Foster became the U.S. junior national champions
. When Foster retired from competition to attend medical school, she teamed with Dudley Richards
.
With Richards, she competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics
, placing 9th. They won the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships
and the silver medal at the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships
.
On January 28, 2011 Maribel Owen was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame
along with the entire 1961 World Team. Her sister Laurence Owen also was inducted and her mother Maribel Vinson Owen was inducted for a third time in 2011; in her capacity as a 1961 World Team Coach. Previously, her mother had been inducted in the inaugural Class of 1976 as a singles skater and for a second time in 1994 as a pairs skater.
Owen was a student at Boston University
, where she was majoring in sociology
and anthropology
.
, to be held in Prague
, Czechoslovakia
. She was a passenger on a Boeing 707
operating as Sabena Flight 548
when it crashed near Brussels
, Belgium
, killing all on board. She was 20 years old. The World Championships that year were cancelled.
Maribel Owen was interred next to her mother and sister in Mount Auburn Cemetery
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
)
Dudley Richards
Dudley "Dud" Shaw Richards was an American figure skater who competed in men's singles and pairs. In singles, he won the bronze medal at the 1953 United States Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at that year's World Figure Skating Championships...
, she was the 1961 U.S. national champion
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
and represented the United States at the 1960 Winter Olympics
United States at the 1960 Winter Olympics
The United States was the host nation for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California.- Medalists :- Alpine skiing:MenWomen- Biathlon:Men1Two minutes added per missed target.- Cross-country skiing :...
, where they placed 10th. She was the daughter of Maribel Vinson and Guy Owen
Guy Owen
Guy Owen was a Canadian figure skating champion.Guy Rochon Owen initially competed in the men's individual figure skating event, winning the1929 Canadian junior men's singles championship. He went on to specialize in the "Fours Event" with great success...
and the sister of Laurence Owen
Laurence Owen
Laurence Rochon "Laurie" Owen was a Hall of Fame American figure skater. She was the 1961 U.S. National Champion and represented the United States at the 1960 Winter Olympics, where she placed 6th. She was the daughter of Maribel Vinson and Guy Owen and the sister of Maribel Owen...
. Maribel Owen died died in the crash of Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548, registration OO-SJB, was a Boeing 707 aircraft that crashed en route to Brussels, Belgium, from New York City on February 15, 1961, killing the entire United States Figure Skating team on its way to the 1961 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.The flight, which...
en route to the 1961 World Figure Skating Championships.
Life and career
Maribel Yerxa Owen was born in Boston, Massachusetts and was the first child born to Maribel Vinson and Guy OwenGuy Owen
Guy Owen was a Canadian figure skating champion.Guy Rochon Owen initially competed in the men's individual figure skating event, winning the1929 Canadian junior men's singles championship. He went on to specialize in the "Fours Event" with great success...
. She was named after her mother, and was known as "Maribel, Jr." or "Mara". Her younger sister Laurence was also a champion skater, and they were both coached by their mother.
Owen began to skate at the age of 2 years and 9 months. At the time the Owen family was living in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
and Maribel competed in singles competition representing the St. Moritz Ice Skating Club. When the Owens moved to the Boston area, she formed a pair team with Charles Foster (later president of the United States Figure Skating Association
United States Figure Skating Association
U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating on ice in the United States. It is recognized as such by the United States Olympic Committee "USOC" under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and is the United States member of the International Skating...
). In 1956, when she age 15, she and Foster became the U.S. junior national champions
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
. When Foster retired from competition to attend medical school, she teamed with Dudley Richards
Dudley Richards
Dudley "Dud" Shaw Richards was an American figure skater who competed in men's singles and pairs. In singles, he won the bronze medal at the 1953 United States Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at that year's World Figure Skating Championships...
.
With Richards, she competed at the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
, placing 9th. They won the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships
1961 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships were held at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from January 25 to January 29, 1961. The competition was dedicated to the memory of Howard D...
and the silver medal at the 1961 North American Figure Skating Championships
North American Figure Skating Championships
The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.Although the event was classified as an...
.
On January 28, 2011 Maribel Owen was inducted into the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame
United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame
The United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame serves as a repository for the sport of figure skating. The United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame is where the greatest names in the history of the sport are honored. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is considered the highest achievement an...
along with the entire 1961 World Team. Her sister Laurence Owen also was inducted and her mother Maribel Vinson Owen was inducted for a third time in 2011; in her capacity as a 1961 World Team Coach. Previously, her mother had been inducted in the inaugural Class of 1976 as a singles skater and for a second time in 1994 as a pairs skater.
Owen was a student at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, where she was majoring in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
.
Death
As a result of winning the national championships, Maribel Owen was selected to be a member of the U.S. team at the 1961 World Figure Skating ChampionshipsWorld Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
, to be held in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. She was a passenger on a Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
operating as Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548, registration OO-SJB, was a Boeing 707 aircraft that crashed en route to Brussels, Belgium, from New York City on February 15, 1961, killing the entire United States Figure Skating team on its way to the 1961 World Championships in Prague, Czechoslovakia.The flight, which...
when it crashed near Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, killing all on board. She was 20 years old. The World Championships that year were cancelled.
Maribel Owen was interred next to her mother and sister in Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded in 1831 as "America's first garden cemetery", or the first "rural cemetery", with classical monuments set in a rolling landscaped terrain...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
Results
(pairs with Dudley RichardsDudley Richards
Dudley "Dud" Shaw Richards was an American figure skater who competed in men's singles and pairs. In singles, he won the bronze medal at the 1953 United States Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at that year's World Figure Skating Championships...
)
| Event | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympics Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
10th | |||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
10th | |||
| North American Championships North American Figure Skating Championships The North American Figure Skating Championships were a former elite figure skating competition for skaters from the United States and Canada. It was a biennial competition held between 1923 and 1971, with locations alternating between the two countries.Although the event was classified as an... |
2nd | |||
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st |