Want to learn more about figure skating history? You are in the right place!

Created in 2013, Skate Guard is a blog that focuses on overlooked and underappreciated areas of the history of figure skating, whether that means a topic completely unknown to most readers or a new look at a well-known skater, time period, or event. There's plenty to explore, so pour yourself a cup of coffee and get lost in the fascinating and fabulous history of everyone's favourite winter sport!

Tom Steinruck

 Robert Thomas Steinruck

August 16, 1947-October 7, 1986

Left: Tom Steinruck. Right: Nina Emden and Tom Steinruck

Colorado born Tom Steinruck got his start in figure skating at the Seattle Skating Club. In 1969, Tom and partner Nina Emden won the Northwest Pacific junior pairs title, the silver medal at the Pacific Coast Championships and competed at the U.S. Championships. While skating, he studied zoology at the University of Washington. Tom went on to skate professionally with the Ice Follies. He passed away in San Mateo, California on October 7, 1986 at the age of thirty-nine.


Obituary from the "Bay Area Reporter": "Tom died suddenly at Chope Hospital, San Mateo, Oct. 7, leaving behind his lover, Ken Mueller of Foster City, his mother and father Robert Sr. and Mary of Seattle, his brother Jim, and countless loving friends. His smile, his enthusiasm, his dedication to things he believed in made life better for many of us. His contribution to our community through his devotion to AIDS research will be greatly missed."

*Source for inclusion: National AIDS Memorial, The Names Project Memorial Quilt

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