Governor on hand for Revere rink rededication

REVERE – Robert Cronin never met his uncle, Paul, who was killed in World War II, but he always knew that his father and other uncles honored their brother’s memory by serving their country and their city.”Growing up, when people asked if I was related to the Cronin the rink is named after, I was proud to say, ‘Yeah, that’s my uncle,'” Cronin said.Revere residents and city officials got a chance to share that pride Tuesday when they joined Cronin’s relatives and Gov. Deval Patrick in rededicating the Revere Beach Parkway hockey rink named after him.The new $14 million rink replaces one named after Cronin and built in 1959. State Rep. Robert DeLeo remembered the condition the first rink was in before it closed in 2001.”We used to have to stop practice because the condensation got so bad,” he said.The new rink managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) features a regulation-size skating surface; six team changing rooms; bleacher seating for 500 and a skate shop.”This is going to be the shining star of DCR’s facilities,” said Mayor Thomas Ambrosino.Ambrosino, DeLeo and other elected officials called Cronin’s opening a promise kept by Gov. Patrick and state officials. DCR oversaw the completion of a multi-million reconstruction of Revere Beach Boulevard last year in addition to managing Cronin’s completion.”This is part of a broader, stronger Revere community,” Patrick said, adding, “Facilities like this one are part of reviving and rebuilding a sense of community.”