Elaine Straka
I had a friend who lived across the street and one Saturday night her mother took us to Brookpark Skateland. I loved skating since I was seven when my parents bought me my first pair of skates you know the kind that went over your shoes I would roll up and down the sidewalks all day to night. When I stepped into this skating rink I was amazed and hooked from that first Saturday night. I remember telling her "wow there is a man playing the music" and she told me if you wave to him he might wave back or smile at you, was I smitten from that day forward. I was so happy when my father gave me the money to buy a pair of indoor skates so I would not have to rent them out. I remember they had blue wheels plus I bought a skate case to put them in to carry back and forth. Saturday nights could not come any faster and as I got older and learn to drive there were Wednesdays and Thursdays and Sunday night skating. Thank you Rich for one of the best times in my life 15 years of listening you play that organ while rolling around and the wonderful feeling it left inside of me. I also met the best guy there at the rink and we have been married 32 years. My sincere sympathy to Rich's family and I hoping there is a rink in heaven and he his playing that Hammond. -Elaine Straka nee Ambrose
