Obituary of Gerard-Maurice Renaud

WILMINGTON, Del. - Gerard Maurice Renaud, 75, of Wilmington, Del., died Feb. 21.Born in Lewiston, "Jerry" served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 until 1951, following graduation from Lewiston High School.His favorite pastime was figure skating, and he joined the Ice Capades after leaving the military.A diligent perfectionist with an ear for music and an eye for choreography, he was performance director for the Ice Capades West Company from 1955 to 1960, and for the East Company from 1960 to 1961.In 1961, he left Ice Capades to pursue a successful coaching career that would span nearly 44 years, coaching several elite skaters to titles in regional, sectional and U.S. national championships.He served as a mentor to his fellow coaches, openly sharing his expertise. Specializing in the teaching of spins, his students nicknamed him "The Spin Doctor."His passion for skating and life will be missed by the many athletes, colleagues and friends whose lives he touched.He was predeceased by his parents, Sara and Leo Rancourt, of Lewiston.