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News
Michael Ramirez, the Skate Keeper of Empire Rink (Marlon Ajamu Myrie)
The Skate Keeper of Empire Rink
by Kathleen Horan
NEW YORK, NY May 02, 2007 —It’s hard to know which jobs are going to have the greatest impact in a city like New York. The fact that Michael Ramirez is leaving the work he’s done for 41 years might not get much attention, unless you were a regular at the Empire Roller Skating Center.
The Crown Heights rink closed its doors after 66 years last week. It doubled as a community center and Ramirez - known as Pappi - tended the skates and the kids with great attention. WNYC’s Kathleen Horan spoke with him about the place that changed his life.
