Pat McNamara, Olympic speed skater in '50s, dies

Matthew Francis "Pat" McNamara was first introduced to the world of speed skating in his 20s, when he would lace up a pair of beat-up hockey skates and zoom around Powderhorn Lake in Minneapolis. The first time he tried to join a local speed skating club, McNamara was told he was too old, but that didn't put him off.

McNamara would later qualify for the 1952 and 1956 Winter Olympics, where he would be among the top American competitors.

McNamara, who lived in Plymouth, died Oct. 24, weeks after being hit by a van while riding his bike. He was 85.

Born in Minneapolis, McNamara was the youngest of five children and attended DeLaSalle High School. His mother played piano, and his father was an accountant for the Northern States Power Co.

Just before his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Marines, said Mary Tabako, McNamara's niece.

He spent more than three years stationed in the Pacific fighting the Japanese, said Barton Warren, McNamara's nephew.

After the war, he came back home and studied psychology at the University of Minnesota for a few years, Tabako said.

In a 10-minute documentary about his speed skating career titled "My Name Is McNamara," McNamara talked about how, in the 1940s, he would skate at the old Minneapolis Arena.

"I just did things ... No medals, just Matthew skating and having a good time," McNamara said at the end of the documentary.

In the 1952 Olympics in Norway, McNamara was the fastest American in the 5,000-and 10,000-meter races.

In Italy in 1956, McNamara broke the American record for the 1,500-meter and the 5,000-meter and he was the fastest American in the 10,000, according to Mark Warren, one of his nephews.

He didn't bring home any medals, but that wasn't what was important to him, Tabako said.

"He didn't do it for the glory," she said. "He did it for himself."

McNamara married his wife, Kay, in 1957. Three years later, he gave up another shot at the Olympics because his wife was pregnant with Patrick, his only child, and he didn't want to leave her, Tabako said.

McNamara worked for 31 years at Northern States Power, where he spent most of his career as a meter reader until he retired in 1991, Tabako said.

"I admired him for as long as I can remember," said Barton Warren, who also used to work at NSP.

McNamara had a passion for sports, his family said. He skated, biked and played tennis.

Even as he got older, McNamara continued to be active, said Greg Oly, a fellow Plymouth resident and speed skater.

"Everybody admired him because he was getting up there in years and he would always go out there and do a hard workout," Oly said. "He was amazing."

Even at the age of 85, McNamara was riding 4 miles a day on bike, Tabako said.

He is survived by his son, Patrick, and nieces and nephews. Services have been held.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495