Happy Afrates, wearing a black-and-white-striped referee's shirt and outmoded black skates with red wheels, rolled along with skaters at Lorain Skate World, maintaining order and fostering fun for the last 32 years.
"Bend your knees! Hold your head up!" he routinely told novice skaters.
"Stop weaving! Dont cross the red line!" Afrates admonished rowdy rule breakers.
The 75-year-old Afrates, who died July 16 a few days after suffering a stroke, worked part-time as a floor guard and volunteered as a skate instructor at the roller rink on West Erie Avenue from 1976 until the shortened summer schedule began in May.
"He loved to teach the little ones to skate," said rink owner Alice Carter. "Those kids are coming back and bringing their kids and saying, 'Omigod! He's still here!' "
Skaters, who spotted Afrates away from the rink often greeted him warmly and introduced him to their parents and friends.
Many later sent him their high school graduation pictures with notes, thanking him for teaching them not only to skate but also to work hard, be responsible and be kind to others.
Afrates, the second eldest of 10 siblings, did the same for his younger brothers and sisters beginning at a young age.
When Afrates was old enough to make a little money by picking fruits and vegetables at Lorain County farms, he saved most of it for family needs and wants.
"If my sisters wanted something, he gave them a nickel or dime to get candy,:" said his brother Jiggers, aka Leonard. "He was always like a provider for the younger ones. When Dad passed away [in 1958], Happy would buy clothes for the kids. He sort of became the father of the family."
He also used his earnings to go skating at the former Lorain Arena roller rink. He fell in love with roller skating when he was in junior high school.
The lifelong Lorain resident never married and never moved from the family home. He took care of his widowed mother until she died seven years ago.
He was born Dennis J. Afrates, but was known as "Happy" since grade school. Every morning he listened to "Happy Hank," who told corny jokes and riddles on the radio. He repeated the routines for classmates, who dubbed him "Happy Hank." They later shortened it to "Happy."
After graduating from Lorain High School in 1951, Afrates worked with his father as a roofer and had a job with American Ship Building. Within a few years, he became a stock boy at the A&P grocery store on Broadway in Lorain. He worked his way up to assistant manager before the store closed around 1970.
Then he took a job as a helper for John Scarvelli's floor installation business. He met Scarvelli and his wife, Nora, while bowling at Broadway Lanes. Afrates became Nora's partner for couples bowling tournaments.
"He was the best kind," Nora Scarvelli said. "He never smoked or drank or swore or nothing. [Our kids] really liked him."
Before working at Skate World, Afrates was a floor guard at Lorain Arena, where he competed in roller hockey and speed skating.
He gave rides to other skaters so they wouldn't have to hitchhike in inclement weather. He paid for the use of a rink so skaters could practice for hockey, speed skating and dance competitions.
When his younger hockey teammate Dick Weldon was still in school and his family could not afford to pay for him to participate in a state skating meet, Afrates told him, "You go. I'll pay everything."
"Entry fees, food, hotel; He just took care of it," Weldon said. "After I graduated and went to work and got my first paycheck, I handed him an envelope with $20 - a lot of money in 58. I told him, 'I'm going to pay you 'till you tell me we're even.' "
Afrates refused the cash and told Weldon, "Whenever you see an opportunity to help somebody else, you do that, and thats payment enough."
By Alana Baranick
"Bend your knees! Hold your head up!" he routinely told novice skaters.
"Stop weaving! Dont cross the red line!" Afrates admonished rowdy rule breakers.
The 75-year-old Afrates, who died July 16 a few days after suffering a stroke, worked part-time as a floor guard and volunteered as a skate instructor at the roller rink on West Erie Avenue from 1976 until the shortened summer schedule began in May.
"He loved to teach the little ones to skate," said rink owner Alice Carter. "Those kids are coming back and bringing their kids and saying, 'Omigod! He's still here!' "
Skaters, who spotted Afrates away from the rink often greeted him warmly and introduced him to their parents and friends.
Many later sent him their high school graduation pictures with notes, thanking him for teaching them not only to skate but also to work hard, be responsible and be kind to others.
Afrates, the second eldest of 10 siblings, did the same for his younger brothers and sisters beginning at a young age.
When Afrates was old enough to make a little money by picking fruits and vegetables at Lorain County farms, he saved most of it for family needs and wants.
"If my sisters wanted something, he gave them a nickel or dime to get candy,:" said his brother Jiggers, aka Leonard. "He was always like a provider for the younger ones. When Dad passed away [in 1958], Happy would buy clothes for the kids. He sort of became the father of the family."
He also used his earnings to go skating at the former Lorain Arena roller rink. He fell in love with roller skating when he was in junior high school.
The lifelong Lorain resident never married and never moved from the family home. He took care of his widowed mother until she died seven years ago.
He was born Dennis J. Afrates, but was known as "Happy" since grade school. Every morning he listened to "Happy Hank," who told corny jokes and riddles on the radio. He repeated the routines for classmates, who dubbed him "Happy Hank." They later shortened it to "Happy."
After graduating from Lorain High School in 1951, Afrates worked with his father as a roofer and had a job with American Ship Building. Within a few years, he became a stock boy at the A&P grocery store on Broadway in Lorain. He worked his way up to assistant manager before the store closed around 1970.
Then he took a job as a helper for John Scarvelli's floor installation business. He met Scarvelli and his wife, Nora, while bowling at Broadway Lanes. Afrates became Nora's partner for couples bowling tournaments.
"He was the best kind," Nora Scarvelli said. "He never smoked or drank or swore or nothing. [Our kids] really liked him."
Before working at Skate World, Afrates was a floor guard at Lorain Arena, where he competed in roller hockey and speed skating.
He gave rides to other skaters so they wouldn't have to hitchhike in inclement weather. He paid for the use of a rink so skaters could practice for hockey, speed skating and dance competitions.
When his younger hockey teammate Dick Weldon was still in school and his family could not afford to pay for him to participate in a state skating meet, Afrates told him, "You go. I'll pay everything."
"Entry fees, food, hotel; He just took care of it," Weldon said. "After I graduated and went to work and got my first paycheck, I handed him an envelope with $20 - a lot of money in 58. I told him, 'I'm going to pay you 'till you tell me we're even.' "
Afrates refused the cash and told Weldon, "Whenever you see an opportunity to help somebody else, you do that, and thats payment enough."
By Alana Baranick
Happy Afrates, wearing a black-and-white-striped referee's shirt and outmoded black skates with red wheels, rolled along with skaters at Lorain Skate World, maintaining order and fostering fun for the last 32 years.
"Bend your knees! Hold your head up!" he routinely told novice skaters.
"Stop weaving! Dont cross the red line!" Afrates admonished rowdy rule breakers.
The 75-year-old Afrates, who died July 16 a few days after suffering a stroke, worked part-time as a floor guard and volunteered as a skate instructor at the roller rink on West Erie Avenue from 1976 until the shortened summer schedule began in May.
"He loved to teach the little ones to skate," said rink owner Alice Carter. "Those kids are coming back and bringing their kids and saying, 'Omigod! He's still here!' "
Skaters, who spotted Afrates away from the rink often greeted him warmly and introduced him to their parents and friends.
Many later sent him their high school graduation pictures with notes, thanking him for teaching them not only to skate but also to work hard, be responsible and be kind to others.
Afrates, the second eldest of 10 siblings, did the same for his younger brothers and sisters beginning at a young age.
When Afrates was old enough to make a little money by picking fruits and vegetables at Lorain County farms, he saved most of it for family needs and wants.
"If my sisters wanted something, he gave them a nickel or dime to get candy,:" said his brother Jiggers, aka Leonard. "He was always like a provider for the younger ones. When Dad passed away [in 1958], Happy would buy clothes for the kids. He sort of became the father of the family."
He also used his earnings to go skating at the former Lorain Arena roller rink. He fell in love with roller skating when he was in junior high school.
The lifelong Lorain resident never married and never moved from the family home. He took care of his widowed mother until she died seven years ago.
He was born Dennis J. Afrates, but was known as "Happy" since grade school. Every morning he listened to "Happy Hank," who told corny jokes and riddles on the radio. He repeated the routines for classmates, who dubbed him "Happy Hank." They later shortened it to "Happy."
After graduating from Lorain High School in 1951, Afrates worked with his father as a roofer and had a job with American Ship Building. Within a few years, he became a stock boy at the A&P grocery store on Broadway in Lorain. He worked his way up to assistant manager before the store closed around 1970.
Then he took a job as a helper for John Scarvelli's floor installation business. He met Scarvelli and his wife, Nora, while bowling at Broadway Lanes. Afrates became Nora's partner for couples bowling tournaments.
"He was the best kind," Nora Scarvelli said. "He never smoked or drank or swore or nothing. [Our kids] really liked him."
Before working at Skate World, Afrates was a floor guard at Lorain Arena, where he competed in roller hockey and speed skating.
He gave rides to other skaters so they wouldn't have to hitchhike in inclement weather. He paid for the use of a rink so skaters could practice for hockey, speed skating and dance competitions.
When his younger hockey teammate Dick Weldon was still in school and his family could not afford to pay for him to participate in a state skating meet, Afrates told him, "You go. I'll pay everything."
"Entry fees, food, hotel; He just took care of it," Weldon said. "After I graduated and went to work and got my first paycheck, I handed him an envelope with $20 - a lot of money in 58. I told him, 'I'm going to pay you 'till you tell me we're even.' "
Afrates refused the cash and told Weldon, "Whenever you see an opportunity to help somebody else, you do that, and thats payment enough."
By Alana Baranick
"Bend your knees! Hold your head up!" he routinely told novice skaters.
"Stop weaving! Dont cross the red line!" Afrates admonished rowdy rule breakers.
The 75-year-old Afrates, who died July 16 a few days after suffering a stroke, worked part-time as a floor guard and volunteered as a skate instructor at the roller rink on West Erie Avenue from 1976 until the shortened summer schedule began in May.
"He loved to teach the little ones to skate," said rink owner Alice Carter. "Those kids are coming back and bringing their kids and saying, 'Omigod! He's still here!' "
Skaters, who spotted Afrates away from the rink often greeted him warmly and introduced him to their parents and friends.
Many later sent him their high school graduation pictures with notes, thanking him for teaching them not only to skate but also to work hard, be responsible and be kind to others.
Afrates, the second eldest of 10 siblings, did the same for his younger brothers and sisters beginning at a young age.
When Afrates was old enough to make a little money by picking fruits and vegetables at Lorain County farms, he saved most of it for family needs and wants.
"If my sisters wanted something, he gave them a nickel or dime to get candy,:" said his brother Jiggers, aka Leonard. "He was always like a provider for the younger ones. When Dad passed away [in 1958], Happy would buy clothes for the kids. He sort of became the father of the family."
He also used his earnings to go skating at the former Lorain Arena roller rink. He fell in love with roller skating when he was in junior high school.
The lifelong Lorain resident never married and never moved from the family home. He took care of his widowed mother until she died seven years ago.
He was born Dennis J. Afrates, but was known as "Happy" since grade school. Every morning he listened to "Happy Hank," who told corny jokes and riddles on the radio. He repeated the routines for classmates, who dubbed him "Happy Hank." They later shortened it to "Happy."
After graduating from Lorain High School in 1951, Afrates worked with his father as a roofer and had a job with American Ship Building. Within a few years, he became a stock boy at the A&P grocery store on Broadway in Lorain. He worked his way up to assistant manager before the store closed around 1970.
Then he took a job as a helper for John Scarvelli's floor installation business. He met Scarvelli and his wife, Nora, while bowling at Broadway Lanes. Afrates became Nora's partner for couples bowling tournaments.
"He was the best kind," Nora Scarvelli said. "He never smoked or drank or swore or nothing. [Our kids] really liked him."
Before working at Skate World, Afrates was a floor guard at Lorain Arena, where he competed in roller hockey and speed skating.
He gave rides to other skaters so they wouldn't have to hitchhike in inclement weather. He paid for the use of a rink so skaters could practice for hockey, speed skating and dance competitions.
When his younger hockey teammate Dick Weldon was still in school and his family could not afford to pay for him to participate in a state skating meet, Afrates told him, "You go. I'll pay everything."
"Entry fees, food, hotel; He just took care of it," Weldon said. "After I graduated and went to work and got my first paycheck, I handed him an envelope with $20 - a lot of money in 58. I told him, 'I'm going to pay you 'till you tell me we're even.' "
Afrates refused the cash and told Weldon, "Whenever you see an opportunity to help somebody else, you do that, and thats payment enough."
By Alana Baranick
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