Barry James Hagan
August 2, 1957-September 26, 1993
Kim Krohn and Barry Hagan. Photo courtesy "Skating" magazine.
Long Beach, California's Barry Hagan got his start in skating at the age of thirteen at the Arctic Blades Figure Skating Club. Coached by Darlene S. Gilbert, he made his national debut in the novice men's event at the 1975 U.S. Championships in Oakland. The following year, he won the bronze medal in the (junior) Silver Dance event at the 1976 U.S. Championships in Colorado Springs. Kim and Barry went on to win gold medals at the Pacific Coast Championship and Grand Prix International de St. Gervais and the bronze medal in the senior ice dance event at the 1981 U.S. Championships. As professionals, Kim and Barry toured with Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, won several events on the Pro-Skate circuit, the 1982 International Professional Figure Skating Championships and the 1984 United States Professional Figure Skating Championship. He was also a trained ballet and jazz dancer. Barry passed away on September 26, 1993 in Los Angeles at the age of thirty-six.
Barry's obituary from "Skating" magazine: "Barry Hagan, former U.S. national and international competitor, died in a hospice in Long Beach, Calif. on September 26 at the age of 36. Hagan and dance partner Kim Krohn Basle were bronze medalists in Championship dance at the 1981 U.S. Championships under the instruction of Darlene Gilbert. Hagan had also passed the gold figure and free skating tests. After turning professional in 1982, Hagen skated in the Pro Skate Tour and later with the Torvill and Dean Ice Show. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Long Beach with a major in Anthropology."
*Source for inclusion: "Skating's Spectre", Michael Clarkson, The Calgary Herald, December 13, 1992
