The Stephen O’Brien Memorial Learn to Skate Returns on Saturday
Springfield, Mass. — After a successful opening weekend, the 26th annual Stephen O’Brien Memorial Learn to Skate returns to Cyr Arena in Forest Park on Saturday. The program is free of charge, including skate rental, ice time and instruction. Children are asked to bring a properly fitted bicycle or hockey helmet and gloves to keep their hands warm.
“Officer O’Brien was not only a dedicated police officer but he also gave back to the community in many ways, including coaching and mentoring children in our area,” Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood said. “I cannot believe it has been seven years since he passed, but I do look forward to officers carrying on Officer O’Brien’s legacy of teaching children how to ice skate and being positive role models for the youth of Springfield.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and I are very happy to see this great community program return for the holidays. Officer O’Brien was truly a wonderful and dedicated officer who gave back to our Springfield community in many ways. I am proud to join with our brave and dedicated men and women in Blue in supporting the return of this Learn to Skate event to continue to honor the memory of Officer Stephen O’Brien and his legacy.”
Each session will be held from 3-4 p.m. Children wishing to participate are asked to arrive by 2:30 p.m. each week. The additional sessions will be held on December 10th, 17th, January 7th and 14th.
The program is open to all children, not just Springfield residents.
Children are not required to participate in every session and may take part in as many sessions as they wish.
About Officer O’Brien
Springfield Police Officer Stephen O’Brien died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 56.
A native of Springfield, he worked for several years at the Hampden County Registry of Probate before joining the Springfield Police Department in 1986.
In addition to golfing and coaching baseball for many years in Westfield, Officer O’Brien was one of the first Springfield Police officers who took part in the “Learn-to-Skate” program at Cyr Arena that is now named in his honor.
