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By Gene Williams
December 15 -- If Donald Squires had to list his goal
on a job resume, it would be “spread the joy.” And that’s
just what the rink-master, theater producer and once-aspiring priest
has spent the holidays doing as general manager of ICE at Santa
Monica.
It’s Squires’ job to make sure the seasonal ice skating
rink at 5th Street and Arizona Avenue is running in tip-top order
for the holidays. And he likes doing it.
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| Donald Squires (Photo by Gene Williams) |
“I love this place. It’s so awesome,” Squires
says. “Last year was great. This year is just incredible.”
Visit the rink almost anytime and you’ll find him there, helping
customers, directing staff and generally seeing to it that everybody’s
having fun.
As General Manager, Squires is responsible for a host of administrative
tasks including scheduling, coordinating events, overseeing maintenance,
filing daily reports and supervising employees.
It’s up to him to ensure that the facilities are kept “clean
and safe” and “that everybody’s playing well and
following the rules,” he says.
It takes a watchful eye for detail, and whenever a situation arises,
“I jump on it, whatever it is,” Squires says.
Customer satisfaction is a top priority, and the 48-year old with
extensive experience in stage management has the right background
and temperament for the job.
Squires gets a special kick out of seeing the thousands of kids
whose faces light up with joy when they visit the Downtown rink.
“The kids are just wonderful,” he says. “They
just have the greatest time.”
And then you have what Squires calls “the nostalgia factor.”
“You have people coming here from all over the country, and
they don’t expect to find this (skating rink) here. So they’re
really surprised when they do,” he says.
But his favorite part of the job is driving the Zamboni –
the big tractor-like machine that maintains the surface of the ice
for smooth skating.
“There’s that Zamboni mystique that’s almost indescribable,”
Squires says. “People love that Zamboni. I feel like a celebrity
when I drive it.”
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Squires grew up attending the city’s
Catholic schools. As a teenager at Borromeo Seminary, he was in
line for the priesthood. But then fate intervened when the school
closed in his sophomore year.
“It’s one of those great mysteries,” Squires explains.
“I wonder what my life would have been like because, if that
seminary stayed open, I definitely would have gone straight through.”
The closing of the seminary opened the door for Squires to follow
his second great love, the performing arts. “Religion and
the theater are very similar,” he explains. Squires had found
his calling and career.
He finished his secondary education at Holy Name Catholic High School
where he immersed himself in the school’s dramatic arts program.
It was also there that he made some lasting friendships.
“The people from that school are still my best friends,”
Squires says.
A few years later, at the age of 21, Squires went on to the Academy
of Dramatic Arts in New York City where he earned his degree.
Over the past 30 years, Squires has worked as an actor, director
and stage manager. He has directed some 70 shows and 5 years ago
signed on as production stage manager of Menopause, the Musical.
“It’s a celebration of women and the change,”
he says.
The show has kept him busy ever since. “I’ve done it
all over the country,” Squires says. “I’ve done
it in Malaysia, and I’m going to Singapore in February to
do it.”
But for the time being, Squires is happy to get a break from the
road so he can manage the skating rink in Downtown Santa Monica
during the holiday season.
“I’m incredibly grateful to the Bayside for this opportunity,”
Squires says. “They’re an incredible group of people
to work with, and I just adore them and their dedication to the
city.”
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