Two sisters who were competitive figure skaters were among the victims of the recent plane collision in Washington, D.C. The pair had participated in the latest championships in Wichita and were on their way home when the tragedy struck.
Reports indicate that several sources have confirmed the victims’ identities, including Peter Livingston, his wife, Donna Smojice Livingston—a native of Central Pennsylvania—and their figure skating daughters. They were among those who lost their lives in the American Airlines plane crash.
The couple’s two daughters, Alydia, 11, and Everly, 14, along with the crew and other passengers of Flight 5342, did not survive. The siblings’ last social media post featured them posing together at their recent event on January 24.
The post, which included numerous hashtags, read, “If you look closely at Alydia’s badge… We were born ready for this but is @usfigureskating ready for this much Livingston at Nationals?”
The Livingstons’ family friend, Cassandra Atkins, who lives in Australia, helped design some of the girls’ skating outfits through her company, Frozen Couture. She had never met the family in person but kept in touch with Donna weekly or daily.
Cassandra often received photos and videos of the siblings from their mother. Reflecting on their relationship, she said, “Donna was just like the most perfect mom. She really was. Like I said before those girls were everything to her, the center of her whole universe.”
The last time Cassandra spoke to Donna was a week ago when they discussed designing new outfits for the girls. Donna mentioned that her daughters liked standing out on the ice, preferring bright colors over the darker ones typically worn by other skaters their age.
The Livingstons’ deaths were also mourned by The Skating Lesson Facebook page. Sharing images of the sisters, the page highlighted Alydia as a rising ice dancer who had earned a spot in the camp after teaming up with a new partner.
She was also the youngest skater on the plane. Remembering her fondly, the page stated, “Lydia, 11, was known for her vivacious personality and strong desire to improve on the ice – no matter the critique.”
Her older sister, in contrast, was more shy and reserved, only coming alive on the ice. She became a sectional champion at both the intermediate and juvenile levels. The children’s mother worked at Comcast, while their father was a real estate agent.
The late couple was described as devoted parents, spending many nights in hotels and splitting their time between Michigan, New Jersey, and Virginia in recent months to support their daughters’ skating careers.
