Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Dick was my tennis doubles partner back in the day, 1975. We partnered in the Wadsworth Parks Summer tournament and won the Men's Doubles tournament. Dick had a very dependable forehand and I, at the time, was 22 yrs old and would scamper all over the court hitting overheads for winners. Every lob that was in my reach Dick would whisper, “that’s yours Roger"! It was the only tournament I ever won. As I look at the trophy in my basement, I think of Dick and his kind generous heart. We should have never won that tournament because the other team was that much better. Nevertheless, there are times in life when everything seems to "click, Dick was hitting forehand winners on crucial points and I was smashing overhead winning from the baseline. I can remember it like “yesterday” that monumentally unexpected win with Dick at Durling Park. Just playing tennis with Dick I did not know all his academic and professional talents. I left Wadsworth the next spring and never seen Dick since. I will carry these fond memories to the grave and hope to have the opportunity in the next life to tell Dick how grateful I was and am to have him as a tennis partner and be in one of my fondest memories. “Dick may you never Double Fault again! God Bless you and your family.
