Robert F. Skrak

Robert Frances (Bob) Skrak passed away at his home in Orinda, California, on December 28, 2017, at the age of 91.

In his early years, Bob worked in his father’s grocery store until he entered the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1943 and served in Germany during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he became a professional figure skater, touring and performing with Ice Capades for several years.

Bob’s career and contributions to the ice skating industry spanned six decades. He worked with Frank Zamboni on one of the early Zamboni ice resurfacing machines and, in 1954, became the first person to resurface the ice on a Zamboni machine at an NHL game. He later became the general manager for East Bay Iceland Inc., the parent company of the Iceland arenas in the San Francisco Bay area. He retired from the company in 1993.

A charter member of the Ice Skating Institute (now Ice Sports Industry), Bob was honored with the 2013 ISI Legacy Award for his support and contributions to the early development of the ISI and the ice skating industry.

Bob is survived by; his wife, Joyce; his children, Robert D. (Elena) Skrak, Norda J. Skrak, Susan T. (Mike) Wooldridge; stepchildren Elaine F. (Dave) Reis and Linda K. Rutan; a sister, Annamae Weber; and nine grandchildren. His parents, two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Bob’s life on March 28 at 10 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Emeryville, California.

The family extends special thanks to the Sutter hospice team for their helpful assistance during Bob’s final weeks. Memorial donations to Sutter Care At Home, a tax-exempt organization (ID# 94-6068843), may be made by calling (800) 6981273.