"Little" Lois Goeller from Mineola
Hello Jim-
I thought I would drop you a note that 'Little' Lois Goeller
is alive and well. Lois was a former Junior National Ladies and Dance Champion on rollers. Her partner was Walter Bickmeyer Jr.
Lois turned 80 this May. She transferred to ice at the age of 15, and starred in Holiday on Ice. She became a Nationally recognized coach, and continues to teach today.
Lois was a different skater than anyone in her day (no one could beat her), simply because Inez sought out lessons for her from 4 of the most famous figure skating coaches (ice) . Gustave Lussi, Pierre Brunet, Howard Nicholson and Edi Scholdan. Inez VH was a member of the NY Skating Club, and this benefited Lois greatly. Lois invented many moves that have never been done since (solo death spiral was one of them). I am the only other person in the world who has ever done it. It’s hard to imagine a man doing the move. I recall seeing the picture hanging on her wall when I was 12 years old. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen (she was in Roller skates and the photo was taken at Rockefeller Center, NY when she was 12 or 13). I was determined to do that move despite the fact that Lois said she would send me home and end my skating career if she ever saw me attempt to even try it. I was a sneak....LOL. I couldn't do it one the ice because Lois would have punished me immediately, but I would practice at home by putting one foot under the kitchen counter and I would lean back and try to mimic the picture. Needless to say, I fell a lot in the kitchen. I recall one early morning training session months later that Lois did not attend.....this was my chance....to do it on the ice. I continued to practice the move whenever I could sneak it in, and then many years later when I was 19 and ending my competitive career, I decided to show her 'Lois, I have a surprise for you'........I was so proud of this move and I knew Lois would understand, now that I was older..............wrong! Her face turned beet red, and she stormed off the ice and did not speak to me for quite a while. Later she told me just how dangerous the move was, and that one fall could injure me for life. I was a boy....I had no fear or idea that I could hurt myself.....besides, I had survived the kitchen counter for years. Today we laugh about it, and she is actually very proud that I taught myself to do something only she could. It connects us even more.
I have many stories to share about those days in Mineola when skating was something very special. Lois told me everything, because to me it was a magical world, and I constantly asked for more info. Because she talked to me about those days all the time, I feel like I was actually there........the organ playing, wearing my black tights, white shirt and tie. It was a great era....the greatest!
I have known Lois for more than 30 years. She was my coach and through her incredible knowledge I became a gold medalist, US and International coach. I lived with Lois for many years while training as a competitive skater and am in contact with her daily. She refers to me as her 'Champion'....even today. Like Inez was for her, she is a second mother to me and I have been a part of the family for years and am blessed.
No one would ever guess that Lois is 80, and she teaches full time. She is still amazing.
I am certain that anyone who knows her from the world of roller skating would like to know that she is still around. Perhaps you could let them know. Once she left rollers, she never put on a pair ever again, and in the roller community, she vanished.
Sincerely-
Thomas V. Shaw
PS I am attaching pictures of Lois at age 15....she had just made the switch to ice. Also is my death spiral. You have to admit, that move is awesome, only no one knows about it anymore. Enjoy!
Lois Solo Death Spiral
"little" Lois Goellner
Thomas Vaughn Shaw
