Class of 1997: Coach
Lawrence Demmy and Jean Westwood of Great Britain were the first World Champions and the first European Champions in Ice Dancing. Defending their International and World Champion titles from 1950 – 1955, Jean retired from competition, and in Lake Placid she coached the junior and senior pairs to US dance titles in 1956. She coached the Canadian duo Geraldine Fenton and Bill McLachlan to silver medal success at the 1957 and 1958 World Championships, bronze in 1959, first place in North Americans 1957 and 1958 and Canadians 1957 to 1959. Her coaching expertise was in demand in many of the major skating centers of North America where she taught all disciplines of figure skating for more than 20 years. Her pupils included Otto and Maria Jelinek, John and Donna Lee Mitchell, John and Betty Ann McKilligan, Don Phillips and Joni Graham and Victor Kraatz. For 14 years she was the Head Coach of National Dance Seminars. In addition, she contributed to publications on dance, was a NCCP Course Conductor, Level 1 and 2, and a Clinic Conductor of CANSKATE and CANFIGURESKATE programs. In 1977, Jean and Lawrence were the first ice dancers to be inducted into the the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
