Known as the "Marilyn Monroe on ice," Frances Dorsey Burke was the ultimate skating professional.

"She could do everything with such grace," said former student Denise Trochei, admiring photos of Burke in her skating prime. "She'd have the perfect smile, doing the perfect splits with no sweat — but she'd be five feet in the air."

The former figure skater competed at the national and international levels during the 1950s and became a headline attraction for years with the Ice Follies. After starting a family, she returned to skating and devoted her life to being a performer, choreographer and ice-skating instructor.

When she retired to Santa Fe with her husband, Robert Burke, about 15 years ago, she pushed for an ice skating rink at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. And she got it, creating a fan base of dedicated students who often left practice inspired and dreaming of their own time on the ice.

She also was a devoted animal lover, fostering and caring for more than a dozen dogs and cats, many of whom she picked up along the way, from friends who could no longer keep them. When she died in July, Burke left behind a houseful of animals and an empty spot on the ice skating rink.

On Thursday, Burke's former students and the Santa Fe Skating Club will honor her memory with the Frances Dorsey Memorial Skate.

The fundraising event for Felines & Friends, the nonprofit animal group helping to find homes for Burke's animals, begins at 4:30 p.m. with an exhibition from her students, followed by a skate-a-thon, with a minimum donation of 25 cents per lap. The two-hour skate-a-thon ends with a reception in the cafe area, with a video presentation and a chance to share more memories of Burke.

The event is free, with free skate rental. Pet-food donations will be accepted.

While many of her former students will be on the ice, the public is invited. One person who is planning to be on the ice is Bobbi Heller, executive director of Felines & Friends. She'll be dressed in the Sylvester the Cat costume.

Denise Cox, a skating club member and a former student, said her amazing teacher was supportive of every child who went on the ice. Skating was foremost in Burke's life, Cox said, noting that Burke taught a private lesson the morning of her death.

"We wanted to do something to honor her," Cox said. "We owe her a lot. She was instrumental in bringing ice skating to Santa Fe."

That Burke's life revolved around ice and creating a love of the sport for countless children is no surprise to her daughter, Dorsey Plummer. The Chicago resident said her energetic mother had the talent and striking beauty to captivate audiences, along with students.

"Skating was her passion," Plummer said. "When she wasn't in shows, she was teaching. It was her life."

Burke's parents encouraged her to skate in her native Washington state, Plummer said. When they saw that she had a talent for the sport, she was sent for more training to Colorado Springs, Colo.

She competed in the U.S. National Championships, placing second in 1952 and third in 1954. She also competed in the World Championships, placing 11th in 1951 and fifth in 1954.

A natural athlete, Burke never failed to exercise every day, Plummer said. And she had few down times. As a young woman, she was told doctors had discovered a bone tumor in her leg. Her father insisted she use the recovery time to get a pilot's license, which she did.

"She was learning how to fly with a cast on her leg," Plummer said. "Once she set her mind to something, she excelled in it."

As a child, Plummer remembers her mother constantly training, usually on the rink at 4:30 a.m. to practice "figures," a one-time requirement in qualifying for the Olympics. She often wouldn't get home until 10 p.m.

While the family did have a pet dog, Burke's love of animals blossomed when she moved to Santa Fe, Plummer said. She also took up horseback riding, which Plummer credits to helping discover an aggressive form of lung cancer.

Burke thought she'd injured a rib when she fell off a horse while riding, Plummer said. But x-rays showed a spot on her lung, which turned out to be cancer.

While Burke fought cancer for years and no longer performed in shows, her death at 74 was still surprising, Plummer said. While homes are being sought for the animals — 15 cats and five dogs — Burke left no provision for their well-being.

Aside from Felines & Friends, the Veterinary Care Center, where one dog of her dog's, Kiva, is being treated, has been providing support. Burke's sudden death is a reminder that people should plan for the unexpected when it comes to animals, Heller said.

The enthusiasm Burke had for skating often rubbed off on her students, Plummer said. So it's only natural that her students in Santa Fe would feel the loss.

But said she hopes the students keep up their practice in Burke's memory.

"I know it's hard to lose a coach," Plummer said. "But I would tell them to don't stop what you're doing and follow your dream. That's what she always did, and that's what she'd want."

Contact Ben Swan at 986-3051 or bswan@sfnewmexican.com.



IF YOU GO

What: Frances Dorsey's Memorial Skate, sponsored by the Genoveva Chavez Community Center with the Santa Fe Skating Center

When: 4:30 p.m. Thursday, exhibition, 5 p.m. skate-a-thon, 7 p.m. reception

Details: Free admission, free skate rental; pet-food donations accepted; minimum donation 25 cents per lap proceeds benefit Felines & Friends

More information: Call skating coordinator Tom Miller at 955-4031 or temiller@santafenm.gov.