Ice runs through Maureen Kangas”™ blood.
That might sound a bit harsh, but she was voted Ice Queen of White Plains in 1967.
To be more specific, a love of ice skating runs through her.
She grew up on the ice, spending every free moment from the age of 5 perfecting her skills and style. But then like most things, life, work and family intruded, forcing her to hang up her skates. She has lived vicariously through the Olympic skaters and the numerous worldwide competitions she watches on television.
She recently returned to the ice after playful prodding, a nagging conscience and best of all, the 800-pound gorilla next door ”“ the McCann Ice Arena in downtown Poughkeepsie.
Kangas, the director of sales and marketing at The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, says she also excelled at swimming and diving ”“ not that wimpy off the side of a pool stuff, but the scary, headstand turned into a dive off the high board spectacle. She still swims during the summer months and has been known to perform a dive or two for her grandchildren.
Kangas grew up in White Plains, where her grandfather, John Palace, a retired vaudeville singer, was manger of Ebersole Ice Rink. Watching the people glide across the ice made the young girl envious. She, too, wanted to skate. Her hints paid off. For Christmas she was gifted with a pair of ice skates. The day after, she and her dad went to the rink.
The initial meeting of blade to ice was less than auspicious; “I looked like a duck.”
Holding onto the rink boards, she struggled. Her grandfather was a “knight in shining armor,” taking her by the hand and escorting her over to the skate shop. There she was outfitted with the proper boots and blades. Now custom fit, “I glided across gracefully.” No wobbles, no shakes. She fell in love with the ice, spending by her own admission, days and nights from age 5 till after high school at the rink.
She became friends with Marvin the Zamboni driver, who would smooth the rink surface with the ominous-looking machine. He and his wife met while skaters at Holiday on Ice, a skating revue. They married, quit the show and moved to White Plains. They lived up to the adage of being unable to leave show business. The couple would take the skaters and create year-end shows that attracted hundreds to the rink. And this was no run-of-the-mill production ”“ there were sets on ice, curtains, chorus lines, solo acts and adagio performances. Kangas remembers the skating and shows with fondness. A pre-Olympic Dorothy Hamill appeared at one show, being ushered in and out quickly by her mom.
During one show, while performing with a partner ”“ they were both dressed in tuxedo outfits ”“ Kangas developed a nose bleed. As the routine reached its crescendo with her partner swinging her with legs near his shoulders and head near the ice, Kangas”™ mother nearly had a heart attack as she watched from the sidelines as red liquid whipped from her daughter”™s face.
Kangas ended with a flourish and a quick wipe of the nose as she bowed to the crowd amid the blood-spattered ice.
After high school, Kangas came to a crossroads ”“ continue skating or go to college. She was soon riding the train down to Manhattan with her father. At Grand Central Terminal, he was off to his job and she was off across town to study medical technology at Mandl Medical School.
She pauses as she considers whether she regrets her choice. The answer falls into that gray area of “perhaps.” But the economics of the times proved too costly to pursue competitive skating.
She continued skating in her off hours, became a very good disco dancer and learned upon completion of her college courses and working for the head surgeon at St. Agnes Hospital that she wasn”™t cut out for medical work. She turned to veterinary work and eventually a breeder of miniature schnauzers in Pocantico Hills.
She continued to teach ice skating to children. When she was seven months pregnant with her first daughter she quit, not because she couldn”™t do it, but the fear on the faces of the mothers who watched her teach were enough.
She began waitressing and then decided to get into management. She ran two restaurants before the family moved to Dutchess County where she was a director of catering for Cordon Bleu Caterers and banquet manager of the Holiday Inn in Fishkill. She met Joe Bonura a little more than five years ago. The owner of The Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel Banquet and Conference Center hired her to be director of sales and marketing. If that doesn”™t keep her busy enough, she is also the vice chairman of the zoning board of appeals of the town of Fishkill.
As the hammering and sawing continues outside her door as the hotel undergoes renovations, she considers the ice rink next door for a little relaxation.
