Frances Dorsey

Frances Dorsey is a former American ice skater who, during the 1950s, competed at both national and international levels and subsequently had a career with the Ice Follies.

Dorsey became a teacher and ice show choreographer at the Northbrook Ice Arena in Northbrook, Illinois. She subsequently retired with her husband to Santa Fe, New Mexico. She died on July 10, 2010. She was a member of the Santa Fe Figure Skating club and was a truly amazing coach. All of the skaters appreciated her unique touch that she brought to the ice. She was always in a positive mood and willing to help all the girls with their programs. She grew up skating with her younger sister Sherry Dorsey Cook never far behind her in competitive circles. They were known as "The Dorsey Sisters." When she was a star in Ice Follies, Frances was billed as, "The Marilyn Monroe of The Ice."

Besides skating in Ice Follies, she continued to perform productions as Holiday on Ice, America on Ice, and authored the book, Creative Ice Skating.

As an adult, she would wake up at 4:30 am each morning doing stretches for 1 & 1/2 hours before going to the ice rink to teach skating in full makeup, and wearing stylish clothes.

"More" magazine chose her as one of the 20 most physically fit cancer survivors in the United States.

While living in Santa Fe, she became interested in horsemanship, and learned dressage riding.

+++++++

FRANCES BURKE Frances Burke (nee Dorsey) dear sister of Sherry (Dorsey) Cook and loving mother to Dorsey (Plummer) Lachner, Comer Plummer, III, and Frances Ann (deceased), and doting grandmother to Lindsey and Katherine Lachner and Faris Plummer died at home on July 10, 2010. Frances was a former figure skater who, during the 1950s, competed at both national and international levels and subsequently was a headline attraction for several years with the Ice Follies. After starting a family, she returned to skating and devoted the next 50 years of her life as a performer, choreographer, skating author, and a teacher to thousands of students at the Northbrook Ice Arena, in Northbrook, Illinois, and at the Santa Fe Figure Skating Club. Memorial services Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 7 p.m. at Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa Street, (505)984-8600. In lieu of follows please send donations to the: Felines and Friends Animal Shelter, (505)316-2281