The Mt. Lebanon Ice Center has a new name: the Frank Gill Ice Rink.
The rink was renamed to honor Gill, a popular coach and board member of the Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association (MLHA), who died of cancer at age 47 in 2023.
The cost of the sign was $4,078, paid for by the Friends and Family of Frank Gill. The group paid a substantial amount for the naming rights, which last for 20 years.
The Mt. Lebanon Commission is the final arbiter on all changes of names of municipal property. Groups or individuals requesting a name change must first submit a petition with at least 200 signatures to the Sports or Parks Advisory Board, with a description of how the proposed name meets one or more of the following criteria:
• The name reflects a historical figure, place, event or other instance of historical or cultural significance.
• The name is related to the natural or geological features of the designated area.
• The name honors an individual or organization who has made a significant land and/or monetary contribution to the municipality, or the name results from a memorial contribution made with naming stipulated as a condition of the donation.
• The name memorializes an individual who has contributed outstanding civic service to the municipal facility and who has been deceased for a period of at least two years.
After the Commission receives the recommendation from the advisory board, the next step is to hold a public meeting, allowing for appropriate public input.
Deb Gill, Frank’s widow, expressed her gratitude for the support she received in effecting the name change. She credits MLHA president Dave Klasnick, his wife, Christy, Jason and Amy Tetlow and Pete and Marcie Eberhart with making the name change a reality.
“I’m just grateful for the amazing, supporting envelopment of the community,” she said.
Dave Klasnick had this to say about Gill: “Frank was a model volunteer, giving his time to help all the players and families he came across in our organization. He was always thinking about the good of the organization and how his work would help every kid, not just his own.”
*This article was updated to reflect the new name of the ice rink.