Boston – Imagine how many times Doug and Christine Lane have had to deal with pride over the years as their son Spencer slowly and steadily transformed from an unstable toddler into a talented adolescent figure skater. That’s what parents do, right? In good and bad times they are first in line with health, hugs, in words encouragement.
But when the World Figure Skating Championship ran on Wednesday in TD Garden, it was just a dad, a Doug, standing under the reflector and speaking of words that was at the same level as Spencer’s skating. Unforgettable. Look forward.
It was just two months ago when Spencer, 16, and his mom, were among the 28 members of the figure skating community who lost their lives in a collision between the American Airlines 5342 and the army helicopter over the Potorac River in Washington, DC this uber-competing community has been in Mourning. And so it was with Wednesday’s memory of the World Championship, which included notes Massachusets Gov. Maura Healey, Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu and President of International Skating Jae Youl Kim.
But it was Doug Lane of Barrington, RI, representing all the families who lost their loved ones in the accident and spoke in a way that indicated that he had watched many figure skating over the years. Was accurate. Was dignified. And although his voice cracked several times, he did not express any anger.
And he did it all in exactly two minutes – less than one of Spencer’s short programs.
“They really didn’t invent vocabulary to talk about the grief that we all feel,” he began. “So what I thought I would do today with time is to share a few thoughts of hope.”
So it was, right there: Hope. This is the news that this mourning man brought to the world phase of figure skating.
Doug Lane speaks during memory of the community of figure skating community who were killed in an American Eagle Flight 5342 crash. (Brian Fluharty / Imagn Pictures)
“My first hope,” Lane said, “is that even though we remember the amazing people from our figure skating community we have lost, we take special care to raise the young skaters that are still here.
“My second hope is that we are expanding the love and support of people outside the figure skating community who were also influenced.”
Thanked “the first respondents who jumped into the action to help our loved ones, regardless of their physical or mental danger they faced.”
What Lane said brought home the harsh reality of what happened that night in Washington. The aircraft and helicopter collided and exploded. Sixty -seven people were killed.
“The last hope I share today is that we can prevent this from happening again,” he said.
“Even a layman like me can easily identify the systematic breakdowns that make it possible.
The words were simple and straight and did not reveal or indicate on the political agenda. When he identified himself as a “layman”, he spoke to me, to me. And in the world where the assignment of guilt became all the rage, Lane would have none of this.
“I hope we can work with our elected officials to ensure safer air transport for all and all our families.”
Lane’s remarks closed the ceremony and served as a lead to the couples competition. The first skaters were Gabriella Izzo, raised in Massachusetts, but represented Austria and her partner Luc Maierhofer.
“They have screens in the dressing room, so I sat there and started crying before I came out,” Izzo said. “It was definitely a moment. He’s doing more. He’s doing more of everything. All the emotions you feel.
Lane, spoke briefly to the media after the ceremony, was asked by as many words as he was doing. He said that keeping busy helps. He noted that his son Milo, 12, is back at school.
“He is really doing with friends at school and time,” Lane said. “In the evening, when the house feels like it doesn’t have everyone to be there, for both of us, that’s the hardest time. But in these circumstances we persevere and do our best.”
Spencer Lane was supposed to be a lecturer on Wednesday evening. (With the kind permission of skating boston)
Lane also noted that Spencer was supposed to be on the ice on Wednesday evening as a lecturer.
Instead, it was Doug Lane, who appeared in TD Garden, and released a short program that he will remember as the peak of the World Firmness Championship 2025.
Spencer Lane would be proud.
(Photos of TD Garden Video Board that shows homage to victims of aircraft crash: Geoff Robins / AFP through Getty Images)
