Sun Valley, Idaho
Early Life
Sonya Helen (Klopfer) Dunfield was born on December 26, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, to Oswald and Margarethe Klopfer. She was the third of four daughters—Ursula, Trudy, Sonya, and Anita. Her family, German immigrants fleeing the rise of Hitler, came through Ellis Island with faith that America offered hope and opportunity.
Life in a two-room cold-water flat in Bedford Stuyvesant during the 1930s was not easy. Yet her family’s resilience, sacrifice, and deep bond provided the foundation for Sonya’s remarkable future. She always credited her mother’s guidance and her sisters’ support for her success.
Figure Skating Career
Sonya first laced up “double runners” at the age of nine on frozen playgrounds, later training at the Brooklyn Ice Palace. Her natural talent, combined with relentless work ethic, launched a historic career.
- 1949 – Youngest U.S. Junior Women’s National Champion (age 15).
- 1950 – U.S. Senior Women’s Silver Medalist.
- 1951 – U.S. and North American Senior Women’s Gold Medalist, World Bronze Medalist in Milan.
- 1952 – Team Captain at the Oslo Winter Olympics, placing 4th.
- 1952 – Silver Medalist at the World Championships in Paris (widely believed to have skated a gold-worthy performance).
Without the financial backing enjoyed by many of her peers, Sonya competed largely on her own. Skating legend Dick Button declared her “the strongest woman in figure skating.”
Professional Performing Career
After retiring from competition, Sonya joined Ice Capades, Holiday on Ice, and Cinderella on Ice in London. She headlined at the original opening of the Wollman Rink in Central Park and performed the final skating show at the Roxy Theatre in New York City.
Known for her artistry, speed, and her trademark split jumps, Sonya performed worldwide. Her final performance came in Legends on Ice at age 70—proof of her lifelong passion for skating.
Coaching & Mentorship
In the early 1960s, Sonya transitioned to coaching, beginning a career that spanned over five decades. With her husband, Canadian skater Peter Dunfield, she trained athletes at the Skating Club of New York, later at the Gloucester Skating Club in Ontario, and for 25 summers in Sun Valley, Idaho, which became their permanent home.
Her students included Olympic and World champions such as Dorothy Hamill, Elizabeth Manley, and Yuka Sato. She was inducted into:
- Skate Canada Hall of Fame (2001)
- Professional Skaters Association Coaches Hall of Fame (2005)
- U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame (2009)
- Sun Valley Winter Sports Hall of Fame (2019)
Family Life
On a snowy night in 1961 at Broadmoor, Sonya met Peter Dunfield. They married on May 16, 1964, in New York City and shared decades of love and partnership. Together, they raised two sons, Gregory (Elizabeth) and Roger (Yvonne), and were blessed with four grandchildren: Taylor, Jordan, Nathan, and Coby.
Though celebrated worldwide, Sonya’s greatest joy was family—whether holidays with her sisters, adventures with her children, or pride in her grandchildren’s accomplishments.
Legacy
Sonya’s life was one of strength, artistry, generosity, and influence. From a cold-water flat in Brooklyn to the world’s grandest stages, she left her mark not just through medals, but through her enduring impact as a coach, mentor, and mother.
She is survived by her sister Anita (Klopfer) Jorgenson, her sons and daughters-in-law, and her grandchildren. She now joins her beloved husband Peter, reunited in the place they loved most—Sun Valley.
Service Information
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Ketchum Cemetery, followed by a celebration of life at the Dunfield residence in Sun Valley. All are welcome to attend.
