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| Oscar Iobst Photo courtesy of Maggie (Heimbecker) Iobst |
(9/3/08) – Former U.S. Figure Skating President Oscar T. Iobst, Jr., died early Sunday morning, Aug. 31, in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the age of 85.
Iobst served on U.S. Figure Skating's Board of Directors from 1971-86, during which time he held several integral positions within the organization, including Eastern vice president (1978-80), president (1980-83) and USOC representative (1983-84). He served as U.S. Figure Skating's chair of the 1987 World Figure Skating Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio, interim executive director from 1992-93 and chair of the Long Range Planning Committee (1993-97).
In addition, Iobst was an honorary member of the U.S. Figure Skating Board of Directors (1987-present), an honorary member of Wissahickon Skating Club and an honorary member of the Broadmoor Skating Club (1983-present).
“U.S. Figure Skating is enormously saddened to learn of the passing of Oscar Iobst,” U.S. Figure Skating President Ron Hershberger said. “Oscar made truly significant contributions to the sport of figure skating and to countless individual skaters, as well as gave exemplary service to U.S. Figure Skating as a judge and president. He was a true gentleman and exemplified the best qualities of a U.S. Figure Skating volunteer.”
Iobst was described as “indefatigable” in his role as a national-level figure skating judge and referee in all four figure skating disciplines. He was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1998.
“He was a jack of all trades for U.S. Figure Skating,” said John LeFevre, president of the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colo, and former executive director of U.S. Figure Skating.
Iobst was a friend and mentor to many in the sport, roles that manifested themselves in his willingness to help skaters, coaches, parents, judges and referees during test sessions or competitions.
“No matter how one knew him, he was a man who commanded universal respect and admiration,” LeFevre said. “Mentor and supporter to many in our early judging and refereeing careers, Oscar was always there to help – an oasis of kindness and compassion.”
While many adult skaters are drawn to figure skating in their youth, Iobst developed a passion for the sport as an adult. He and his first wife, Harriet (Morgan), were avid spectators at numerous World Championships and were heavily involved in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Born Dec. 22, 1922 in Emmaus, Pa., Iobst became a figure skating icon in the Lehigh Valley area. He was a founding member of the Wissahickon Skating Club in Philadelphia, for which he served a three-year term as president.
Iobst graduated high school at age 16 and entered Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science immediately thereafter. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and worked as a pharmacist in the drugstore he owned and operated in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia until his retirement.
The Iobsts resided at the By-A-Brook Farm in Churchville, Pa. Iobst had a rating of Master Gardener and kept an extensive greenhouse on the farm with flowers, vegetables and his specialty – garlic. Together, the couple had one child, Shelia, who is married with five children.
Harriet preceded Oscar in death in 1991.
In 1993, following a short engagement, Iobst remarried, to Maggie Heimbecker. The two met while Iobst served as interim executive director at U.S. Figure Skating Headquarters in Colorado Springs.
After the couple moved back to Churchville, Iobst visited another former U.S. Figure Skating executive director Jerry Lace on his 70-acre ranch in Colorado. When Iobst saw the property, he said if he could ever find a similar place in Colorado, he and Maggie would move back.
A few years later, the ranch went up for sale, and the Iobsts bought it over the phone, recalled Maggie.
When the sprawling ranch became too much to handle, they sold it and moved into a townhome in Colorado Springs.
“I am honored to have been married to Oscar for 15 years,” Maggie said. “He was into skating for the skaters, not for himself. The skaters always came first – he always found time for them.”
No services are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in Iobst's name to Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Ste. 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, or to the U.S. Figure Skating Memorial Fund, 20 First St., Colorado Springs, CO 80906.
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