Maurice Wayne Stillwell, beloved husband of Elda Stillwell and father of Lisa Stillwell, passed away on December 25, 2020 at the age of 93.    Morry ascended from this mortal life to eternal repose in heaven.

The figure skating community throughout the United States and internationally has lost an icon with a lasting legacy.  As President of U. S. Figure Skating Association (1997-1999) and Chair of the International Management Committee, he was instrumental in formation of a joint venture with FS (FigureSkating) Federations of Canada, France, Germany, Japan & Russia, known as the Grand Prix Group.  The outcome was the establishment of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series and ISU Grand Prix Final.   This year marks the 27th year for the Grand Prix Series events.

Morry compassionately sought to encourage skaters to fulfill their dream and, if it was time to move on, consider becoming a judge, accountant, music technician, announcer, coach, volunteer, etc.   No matter what the new path, try to stay in the sport.

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Morry was born in Everett, Washington on November 17, 1927.  As a young boy, he was confined indoors due to contracting rheumatic fever.  His outdoor activities had to be restricted, as the days were wet & rainy days.  Full of youthful energy, however, he found an outlet in indoor roller skating.   In mid teens, he became a roller dancer, skating first nationals in Cincinnati, OH.   Later, he competed in Richmond, A and Pasadena, CA.

For added enjoyment as a roller dancer, Morry became friendly with the "cross-over ice skating crowd", as the dances were similar.  He took to the transition like a duck takes to water.   A female dancer asked him if he would like to compete, so he decided to give it a try.  9 months later he and his partner, Marcia Dennison, won the bronze medal at the Pacific Coast Sectionals Bronze Dance event.   After this event, he returned home, moved up to Silver dance training and shortly thereafter announced that he had been to California and had seen the sun for the first time all day long and was going to move to California!

On October 27, 1947, Morry joined the National Guard at Camp Murray, Fort Lewis, Washington.

On May 2, 1950, still in Washington, Morry was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason and on October 17, 1950, RAISED to a Master Mason - Yancey C. Blalock Lodge No. 265, F. & A. M.   50 years later, December 14, 2001, he was presented a Fifty Year Card

& Recognition Pin for service to the Masonic Lodge and Masonry.

On October 19, 1951, Morry was honorably discharged from the National Guard of Washington and the National Guard of the United States.

Returning to visit sunny Southern California in May, 1952, he received a letter from  home a month later, June 1952,  stating he was being drafted by the Army and would be sent to Southwestern Signal School at Camp San Luis Obispo for basic training.  His skating partnership had to end, but he knew there were ice and roller rinks in Southern California.  All he had to do to continue skating was to hitch hike to Hollywood on weekends and ice skate at the Polar Palace ice rink or Hollywood Roller Bowl.  He chose going to Polar Palace, meeting Elda for the first time.

On completion of the Army basic training in  October, 1952, Morry was assigned to Redstone Arsenal  9330 TSU Ordnance Corps, Huntsville, Alabama and to the Redstone missile project as TDY at Cape Canaveral, under direction of Werner von Braun.

When not on duty at the Arsenal, Morry started an artistic roller figure skating club called the Rocket City Roller Club.    This was the year he proposed to Elda and they set a date to coincide with discharge in l954.    However, when Morry discovered he could have two weeks leave in December, they married on December 19, 1953.

On schedule, six months later, May 27, 1954, Morry was discharged from Redstone Arsenal and transferred to the Army Reserve in California.  He immersed himself into judging and volunteering his services to member clubs in Southern California.

When Morry was discharged from the U.S. Army, he ceased competing and concentrated on reactivating the path to judging and establish interaction with Member clubs.

He already had an appointment as a Low Test figure judge on ice and Gold Dance Test judge on rollers.  His unwavering dedication and loyalty to all skaters (tots, basic skills, competitive, adults, showcase/artistic and Special Skaters) was monumental.  Encouragement was his goal whenever he critiqued a skater.   The judging path was long, but successes mounted:

National Singles/Pairs Judge and Referee, National Showcase Judge and Referee,

Gold test Judge for Figures/ Singles/ Pairs and MIF, Silver - Dance Test Judge,

Novice - Dance Competition Judge and a non-qualifying Technical Controller.

Past President:  All Year FSC:  1972-1973

Past President:  Los Angeles FSC:  1980-1982

Past President: U. S. Figure Skating Association (3 year term) 1997-1999

Past President: Escondido FSC (Now known as The North County FSC):  2018-2020

Chair of the Membership Committee

Chair of the Eligibility Committee

Chair of Long Range Planning

Chair of Competition Committee

Assistant Team Leader 1992 Alberville Olympics

Team Leader 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games – PyeongChang

Morry became totally absorbed in everything he tackled.  Then one weekend, while driving, he and Elda saw a sign announcing a sports car race.   Bought two tickets and were mesmerized by the "sport".  They joined the Sports Car Club of America and Morry and Elda began racing cars.   There was this feeling of exhilaration of acceleration for both of them!

25 years later, Morry took up flying and became an instrument rated Pilot – single engine.   If he were not working a competition on weekends, he would fly the skies!

May he rest in peace and await reunion with his loving wife, Elda, and daughter, Lisa.

Memorial service will be conducted at:

Miramar National Cemetery, 5695 Nobel Dr., San Diego, CA

January 14, 2021 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to:

Los Angeles FSC competition fund at www.lafsc.org/donate

Or

USFS Memorial Fund at Donate | U.S. Figure Skating