Last Father's day weekend, almost 100 young adults, men, women, and senior tennis players from Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois participated in the Dick Schaefer Annual Memorial Tennis Tournament.
The Findlay Tennis Association in conjunction with other Gold charitable event sponsors; The University of Findlay, Findlay Living Magazine, Gene Stevens Honda, Kohl's, Wal-Mart East Center, Copper Tire and Rubber Employees, and YMCA, with 64 other giving sponsors' were able to raise $4,800 for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in the name of Dick Schaefer.
The event is being held at The University of Findlay Russ and Peg Armstrong Sports Complex.
Dick Schaefer was a graduate from The University of Findlay (Findlay College) and retired from Copper Tire and Rubber Company in 1999.
Dick was a very active volunteer and supported many community charitable organizations, such as; Red Cross Disaster Relief, YMCA, American Cancer Society, Knights of Columbus, Findlay Noon Optimist Club and his church, St. Michael the Archangel Church. Dick also enjoyed playing golf, but was an avid tennis player and played numerous years on Findlay Tennis Association, YMCA leagues and Senior tennis.
The University of Findlay Tennis team, Coach Tomas Menec, will be operating a donation cost tennis clinic on Friday, June 13th, from noon thru 2:00 pm. Please register beforehand and please indicate what tennis skill you want to improve on.
Honorary Chairperson this year is Ann Cramer Jaffe. Ann began this at the young age of 31 and she was very active in the Findlay Tennis Association as Co-Chairperson in the early 1980's thru the mid 1990's, when there were 120 players playing in the city tennis league. Ann was also the captain of the women's USTA traveling tennis team, and skill level ranked tennis players with USTA designation levels.
However, her biggest accomplishment and many memories were being involved with Dick Schaefer as a mixed doubles partner, which resulted in many city league championship sweet shirts. Ann commented that Dick was very prompt, polite, and positive and most important, Dick stayed on his side of the tennis court and never gave tennis advice. They became very good friends and she became known as "Annie" and Dick was known as "Schaef".
There will be different skill levels, in each tennis section, including Men's Singles & Doubles, Women's Singles & Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Seniors Singles and Doubles.
The costs of this event will be $20, per event. For this entry fee, you will receive tennis balls, a commemorative t-shirt, minor first aid assistance, free drinks, and reduced prices for food. The local American Red Cross Disaster "Dick Schaefer" van will be selling drinks and food. There will be an opening ceremony on Saturday, at noon.
Nnew and past sponsors are being sought for Gold, Silver and Bronze level givers. Please call Dick Baker (419.422.7575), Mary Terry (419.425.9202), or Ken Bahler (419.424.0077) for more information.
The deadline for signing up is June 6th. The enjoyable weekend of tennis and free for the public and a good opportunity to watch some of the best tennis players in this area.
