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Bergen County Ice Rink Owner Carola Dietl, 80, Was 'Legendary, Force Until The Very End'

The Bergen County figure skating community is mourning the loss of Carola Dietl of Hillsdale. She died on Jan. 21, at 80 years old.

Dave Lease and Carola Dietl of the Fritz Dietl Ice Rink in Westwood.

Dave Lease and Carola Dietl of the Fritz Dietl Ice Rink in Westwood.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Dave Lease FACEBOOK

Deitl carried on the work of her late husband, Fritz Dietl -- a world-renowned figure skating star and coach -- running the Fritz Dietl Ice Rink in Westwood.

For years, rink -- which turned 60 last year -- was the only one in the area.

Figure skater and skating reporter Dave Lease of Montvale penned a tribute to Carola on his Facebook page, remembering her as a "force until the end."

"I don’t think I have ever actually used her first name to her, but she has always been a fantastic friend, supporter and bon vivant," said Lease, host of "The Skating Lesson."

"Mrs. Dietl was a strong character. Every day I went to skate at her rink, I looked forward to our conversations as I tied my skates and prepared for my sessions."

He was a world traveler, she said, and accompanied her husband around the globe at each competition.

"Bon vivant is right," Grace Gold added. "Her warm smile was a fixture of my childhood and teen skating days in the 90s. 

"Can you believe I never even knew her first name? Mrs. Dietl is how she was known to kids and parents alike, as legendary as the rink itself."

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