Honoring the Lives of Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, Julia Kay, Sean Elijah Kay, Angela Yang & Zheheng “Lily” Li
We come together to celebrate the lives tragically lost on January 29, 2025, from the University of Delaware Skating Club family.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 8 am until 12 pm on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the University of Delaware Fred Rust Ice Arena, 549 S. College Avenue, Newark, DE. Interment will immediately follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to the University of Delaware Skating Club and mailed to the Fred Rust Ice Arena, 549 S. College Avenue, Newark, DE, 19716.
Stone Family
Though unable to attend because of a previously scheduled Figure Skating competition, we pray that the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way [that peace and spiritual well-being that comes to those who walk with Him.
We love you all.
Judy Blumberg
Honored to have spent some amazing time mentoring your big dreamers, alongside their coach, Sasha, and their always supportive mothers, in Wichita. We will all keep their dreams alive in our work and play. Deepest condolences and prayers to all.💔💔💔🙏🏻😭
Miki Shimada
I regret I won’t be able to attend and share the moment with all of you. I will be thinking of them on that day. Deepest condolences to all.
N.D
I may have never knew any of you personally but you being taken away from life is something I still consider a tragedy, especially you Angela and Sean. You both were amazing in the rink and I have seen your videos skating together in YouTube. You guys were phenomenals and hopefully in an alternate universe, you guys made it home and are able to achieve your dreams. May your talents and love for skating never go in vain. Someday I shall make a tribute for you and your fellow skaters.
Best of wishes to you all and your families.
-from an anonymous art student in Houston Texas.
Ami Parekh
Condolences to the families of all these hardworking, passionate people who were in the midst chasing their dreams and bringing light to the people around them. The world is feeling the heaviness and emptiness of your absence. May all rest in peace.
Gio
Jan 29 was the most shocking night I’ve heard. My deepest condolences 🙏🏼❤️🩹
Surabhi
May GOD give strength to family ! They all will be in my prayers !
Andrianov Family
Our deepest condolences to the families. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Michelle Fournier
My deepest condolences to the University Skating Club Of Delaware. I am so very sorry for the loss of your skaters. Sending Prayers to everyone that knew these talented people. May they all Rest In Peace
J. L.
You may not know me but I learned a lot from the stories of the plane crash.
Angela and Sean: you both looked like future Olympians. Sad to see it ended too soon. Both of you will always be remember for your great skating and immense charm.
Sasha, you did a great job coaching. You will always be admired for that.
Lily and Julia, you both will always be admired for your devotion to your children and their interests.
Ana Duarte
Dearest Skating Angels,
Hoping the ice in Heaven is smooth and fast! We will continue to honor your legacy with our skating. You will forever be in our hearts and on our minds! We miss you!
Fly High and God Speed!
With love,
Ana & Sergei
Miami Figure Skating Club
Jessica Hunt
On behalf of my children and myself. I wanted to wish my deepest sympathy to all of the families affected by this sudden loss of their loved ones. I grew up training with Sasha and cannot imagine a world without him or his bright light and amazing gift of teaching exactly what he loved to do. Heaven gained some angels the day these beautiful souls were lost. But, none of them will be forgotten as their beautiful light will always shine from above like the stars. Many prayers and so much love from my family to yours. God bless and I will miss you dear friend. Thank you for all the memories and I know how much your family meant to you especially your daughter. May the Lord find all of these families loved ones peace and comfort in this time of need. 💜❤️💞🦋
Tracey Poletis
Sasha was such an unbelievable person! He had such spirit and was always so happy. He will be greatly missed! I didn’t know his skaters or their moms but I understand the kids had tremendous talent and their moms were so dedicated to making them the best they could be! I’m sure Sasha is still coaching them in heaven and we will see them someday!🙏❤️
CHAUNTE ROBERTS
Prayers to you and your family. May God wrap his arms around you and give you the strength to get through these most difficult times.
Alexander Karpov
Very tragic, my condolences.
BRIDGET Gillespie Paverd
Condolences to the loved ones of these remarkably talented, devoted and passionate people whose lives ended far too soon. A huge loss for Delaware and the Figure Skating community. Our hearts are broken. We will forever celebrate their lives – and may they find eternal peace.
Lynda Palmatary
Prayers to the families and friends of these wonderful people. May God give you the strength and love to proceed in life without your loved ones. So many are praying for you.
The Powers Family
Prayers for all of their families. May God Hold Them in The Palm if His Hand Until You Meet Again.
Levin A Deshields
I’M SENDING MY DEEPEST AND SYMPATHY TO THEE ENTIRE FAMILY FOR THIS TRAGIC LOSS OF THIS FAMILY IN THE MIGHTY MARVELOUS MAGNIFICENT MARACULIOUS WONDEROUS NAME OF JESUS AMEN 🕊🕊🕊🕊😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏
Naomi Lang
On behalf of myself and my skating partner Peter Tchernyshev, we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the families involved in this horrific tragedy. Sending strength and love in this time of great hardship, may these beautiful souls rest in peace, we will never forget the legacy they leave with us.
With love,
Naomi lang and Peter Tchernyshev
Naira Aslanyan
I am so truly sorry for your loss 💔. This tragedy was so profound on professional, athletic level but even more on personal for all your loved ones, friends and community at large. I hope that those left behind find comfort in knowing how many people loved you and cared for you. Rest in Peace
Ashley Kabino
There are no words… They are in a beautiful place skating together, laughing and onto their next journey. As a young skater I use to watch Sasha skate, he had what we call beautiful feet in Ice dancing.. having the same coach and skating on the same ice I use to run to the boards, I never wanted to get in his way ❤️ once older we both coached at the same rink. He was always outgoing and happy.. I had the privilege to teach Sasha’s beautiful daughter, and I’m so thankful for Sasha being such an amazing coach to my daughter. Such a hard working man and husband. He loved his family so much! I watched Sean grow up skating into a wonderful skater and met his new partner Angela last year, how excited they were to skate together!! Sean’s mom Julia always so supportive and made sure her kids always looked so nicely put together and ready to skate. She is what I know any skater would want as their mom to support them. All of these beautiful souls I pray for your family’s that at this time to please give them strength. You will all be together one day again ❤️ ::hugs::
Staria S Reisinger
Though I never met any of you, I wanted to extend my deepest sympathy to all the families and friends at such a great loss of these beautiful skaters, mothers, & coach whose lives were taken from our presence way to soon. Since the first day of this horrific tragedy my life has not been the same. It has awakened me to not take one day for granted. Watching Sean & Angela skate and seeing the joy they shared in skating is a beautiful thing. May the families find peace & comfort with all their fondest memories and be assured that your loved ones are in the loving arms of Jesus Christ!!
Erica Wanamaker-Liu
I would just like to say how truly sorry I am for this tragic loss. I am not one of Sasha’s skaters, though like so many others, I’ve been touched by his kindness. He brought such a nice energy to the ice and it was a blessing to know him. I’ll miss him, as I grew to admire and respect him through the years as part of this figure skating community. I hope that knowing how many lives he’s brightened and that his memory will live on provides peace and comfort.
Sean and Angela were so accomplished at their young age. It was delightful to watch them skate and I’m glad that I was able to share the ice with them a few times. Julia and Zheheng were the epitome of devotion to their children.
May they all rest in peace now in the care of Jesus Christ our Savior and God our Father.
Jane Glassman
I never met any of you, but I am profoundly saddened by this tragic loss. You all had such promising lives and were taken too soon. I took lessons and skated at the University of Delaware when I was a graduate student there in 1981-1984. I too want to extend my deepest sympathy to all the families and friends. I hope that your memories will be a comfort to you.
Richard and Susan Allen
We pray for comfort and emotional healing for the Kay family in Jesus name amen! They are the most wonderful neighbors we have ever had!
Nancy Marron-Asti
To my UDFSC skating family I wish you grace to grieve as you need. I wish you the solace that comes with helping each other through this tragedy. This was such a unspeakable shock. I will always remember Sasha from his first arrival at UD and wanting to take lessons from him to being his 59 year old dance student. He was a wonderful coach, friend, father, husband . May God bless his wife and keep her comforted. My heart also mourns for the loss of his students and their Moms. May God watch over their families and give them comfort. May all their memories be a blessing .