Felix Kaspar

Felix Kaspar (January 14, 1915 in Vienna, Austria – December 5, 2003 in Bradenton, Florida, U.S.) was an Austrian figure skater, a twice World champion, and the bronze medalist in 1936.

Kaspar began figure skating at the age of 9. He trained on the artificial ice rink of Eduard Engelmann Jr. Kaspar was renowned for his impressive high jumps.

At the outset of World War II, Kaspar was in Australia, where he met his future wife, June. The couple remained married for 54 years and had one daughter named Cherie. Kaspar spent the entirety of World War II in Australia.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Kaspar taught in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In 1965, he relocated with his family to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked as a coach at the figure skating center in Golden Valley within the Twin Cities. Among others, he coached the Japanese skater Emi Watanabe during his time there.

In 1977, he and his family moved to Pasadena, California, where he continued to work as a figure skating coach.

In 1998, Kaspar was admitted to the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. 

In 1989, Kaspar and his wife retired to Florida. Felix Kaspar died at the age of 88 while battling Alzheimer's disease.