Paul E. Bergerot
Nov. 12, 2019

Dennis R. `Denny’ May
Dec. 1, 2019

Donna Merrill Capolino
Dec. 5, 2019

Doug Woog
Dec. 14, 2019

Donnarae (Barry) Tulsky

Nov. 6, 1954 — Oct.  19, 2019

Donnarae Tulsky was born on Nov. 6, 1954, in Bloomington, Minn., and passed away on Oct. 19 following a courageous battle with cancer.

ISI District 13/14 hosted a celebration of life in honor of Donnarae on Nov. 23.  Many of her former skaters — some with their parents and others, with their children — attended to share wonderful stories about their beloved skating coach.

“She taught me so much that lives with me to this day — how to work hard; how to love what you do even when it is difficult; to get up when you fall; love competition and to be a gracious competitor; the importance of strategy … just to name a few. I don’t know if she ever knew how important those lessons would be decades later,” said former student Joanne Madlung.

Donnarae’s legacy will forever be present in ISI District 13/14.  She always said, “Skating is hard; just do your best.” In remembrance of Donnarae, the district has commissioned “The Donnarae Tulsky Memorial Trophy” to be given annually to the skater who does their best.

Donnarae began skating at the age of 6 with her father and was recognized by a coach who said she had talent and wanted to coach her. She began taking lessons with Robyn Lee and competed in the Ice Skating Institute of America (ISIA), now known as the Ice Sports Industry (ISI), from the ages of 10 to 19 before joining the Ice Follies in 1974.

She left the show in 1979 and began coaching with Candy Goodson at the Sunvalley Shopping Center (mall) in Concord, Calif. Together, they created one of ISI’s iconic teams, The Sunvalley Precision Team.

In 1989, Donnarae began coaching at the famed Berkeley Iceland until the opening of the new San Jose Ice Rink in 1992. She was named the skating director of Vacaville Ice Sports in Vacaville, Calif. in 1999. She led the charge there for an amazing 20 years and had one of the state’s largest ISI participating facilities.

Over the years, Donnarae was awarded with distinct honors such as the ISI District 14 Merit Award and the 2018 ISI Erika Amundsen Award, which is presented to an individual who is a tireless ambassador of ISI and has had a significant and lasting impact on the popularity of ISI programs and activities.

She was proud to be an ISI Gold level judge and referee at many local and national championships. Her dedication to skating and the promotion of ISI’s motto of “Inclusion, not Exclusion” has been monumental in so many skaters’ lives.

“What do you do when the matriarch of your ice rink passes away?” asked Christopher Kinser, the new skating director of Vacaville Ice Sports. Chris noted that it takes a very special person to work until they can no longer stand and how amazing it was to work for a woman who was so selfless and thought of her staff and the continued success of the arena.

Donnarae  is survived by her amazing husband, Matt, whom she married in 1985, and her children, Michael and Tyler, and daughter-in-law Christine Murada.

Written by ISI District 13/14 Director Paige Scott