Senior Tennis 2011 – 1 Volume Seven • Number Fifteen • Spring • 2011 THE NEW ENGLAND SENIOR TENNIS FOUNDATION BULLETIN Ken and Dorcas Miller 2010 USTA New England Family of the Year By Helaine K. Block Ken and Dorcas Miller were named Family of the Year for 2010 for their many contributions to the game, but primarily for their institution of their newly instituted amateur Grand Slam circuit. Dorcas and Ken Miller have a genuine passion for tennis. Their love of the sport is apparent from the moment you meet them and pose the question of when did they first become involved in the sport. A very likeable and humble couple, the Millers are a pair of highly skilled and highly ranked tennis players who have participated in national and New England senior tournaments on a regular basis for just shy of three decades. Dorcas currently holds the No. 1 ranking for 2010 in the Women’s 70-year old division in New England and is seventh nationally. Ken represents half of the No. 2 ranked doubles team in New England in the 70-year- old division. Ironically, neither picked up the sport until they were in their 30s. In her younger days, Dorcas was a stay-at-home mother and an equestrian who enjoyed riding horses. One day, while riding, she was thrown from her horse. Fortunately, her injuries were minimal and she walked away with only a separated shoulder. Once the injury healed, her doctor recommended rehabilitation in either physical therapy or playing tennis to regain the strength in her arm. She chose tennis and the passion for the sport began. Shortly afterward, Ken joined her on the court and tennis became a large component of their lives. Back in the summer of 2008, while driving to a New England senior tournament in Williamstown, MA, the Millers began discussing what could be done to spice up senior tennis for the New England region. They felt as though local senior tennis could use a much needed boost and the timing was ideal. “Ken and I both believed that the sport was fading and no one had an interest in revitalizing it,” Dorcas said. Equipped with their love of the sport, sense of determination, and genuine passion, they started the New England Senior Slams, a series of three United States Tennis Association New England-sanctioned tournaments for senior men and women between the ages of 50 and 85. As the Millers’ dream was becoming a reality, it was time Ken and Dorcas Miller Continued on page 23 2 – Senior Tennis 2011 New England Senior Tennis Foundation, Inc. An organization established by Bernice and Irving Levine for the general purpose of promoting tennis among senior adults in New England. Administration Board Peter Allen, President Irving Levine Rich Heath, Treasurer Wade Frame Bats Wheeler, Clerk Carol Jaffe Amy Read George Ulrich Carol Lipnick Ken Miller Dorcas Miller To facilitate the promotion of senior tennis, the following strategies will be implemented: 1. To provide instruction for seniors interested in learning how to play the sport or improve their skills; 2. To support the publication of material to help seniors learn how to play the game, improve their skills and knowledge of the game, and un- Leach Named to Wilson Friendship Cup derstand the latest health research information Laurie Leach of Weston, Mass., has been named to the USTA relating to the sport of tennis; Wilson Friendship Cup team. The Wilson Friendship Cup, 3. To distribute a newsletter on a regular basis comprised of tennis players 75 years and older, is played every other year in Portschach, Austria, in June. Ralph Wilson, owner of the that freely discusses issues in the sport of ten- Buffalo Bills football team, sponsors this event which culminates nis and at the same time reports the results of in the European Championship tournament. Ten women represent tournaments and other competitions and news different sections of the United States; however, Laurie is the only of interest to seniors; one selected from New England. 4. To run tournaments and other compe- titions for seniors innovatively and in such a way Senior Tennis Newsletter editor as to help participants fully enjoy the sport; Dick Ernst of Cranston, R.I. The 5. To develop and support interstate, inter- sectional and international competitions for Barrington High School boys seniors; tennis coach and a ranking 6. To respond to changing needs and interests senior circuit player. of senior tennis players; 7. To recognize and respond to opportunities to provide leadership within a larger context for the development of tennis (i.e., to support or oppose actions by tennis groups that either further or diminish the growth and support of the sport); Send stories, pictures and articles to: 8. To provide where possible and to support Dick Ernst facilities for senior players at either a reduced 71 Philmont Ave., Cranston, RI 02910 rate or at no cost to them; 401-785-0532; or [email protected] 9. To create and support a governance struc- ture that ensures continuity to the Foundation Advertising in this publication is available at 1 and support for its goals and strategies. $500/page and $300/ /2 page. N.E.S.T.F. website www.neseniortennis.org Senior Tennis 2011 – 3 Editor’s Corner... with Dick Ernst My Wonderful Life in R.I. Tennis at the Park A plaque was dedicated June 10, 2010, at Roger Williams Park, Providence, will commemorating my 62 years of playing, coaching, teaching, running tournaments, and promoting tennis at Roger Williams Park. Court # 1 is named the Dick Ernst Court. This is the biggest honor in my life because my tennis life started and centered around the park courts and continues there today at age 72. In 1947, when I was 9, my father, Bob, would bring me with him to watch him play with all the characters. My dad was a very good player, but most of all, I saw the fun he had. He never pushed me to play. He showed me the basics and I fell in love with tennis. There were no clinics or pros. You formed your strokes mostly on your own natural ability. On summer days he’d leave me off at the courts with my lunch at 9 a.m. on his way to work off Broad Street as a screw-machine operator. Johnny, the court caretaker, would organize games and tournaments for a bunch of us kids and we’d play all day until my dad would pick me up at 5 p.m. In the 40s and 50s it was 10 cents an hour to play. Our family was poor so it really helped that Johnny, Walt Garbecki, and Joe Marcaccio would let me play for nothing, and I’d help them work on the courts. The clay was a pure clay – soft, slow, dirty and dusty. I started with my dad’s old wooden-handled racket with gut strings. Later on, Joe Marcaccio would give me used Bancroft Player Special rackets and balls. I played endlessly, many times 10 or more sets a day, and instructed at the park in the evenings in The Providence Journal-sponsored clinics in 1958, 1959 and 1960. My aunt Helen (Dad’s sister) was the Rhode Island schoolgirl champion in 1930. She was a great player and very pretty and personable. All the guys loved to hit with her in the 30s at the park. On July 12, 1958, she came up from her home at Green Hill and we played mixed doubles together at the park. It was a big thrill for me. In the early 60s I’d go to the park and play matches with Garbecki, Carl Johnson, Walt Weisman, George Fleming, Ed Shein, Irv Levine, Journal sportswriter Dick Reynolds, with his soft, high, lob game, and Charlie Butler. Ed Karoghlanian, a New England top tenner, and I would have fierce battles. Once after losing a point, he threw his racket high into a tree outside the court. It didn’t come down – hilarious. I’d play doubles with my dad against the old timers and remember, often on hot, hot afternoons playing best-of-five sets in three- or four-hour matches with Joe Cavanagh. My dad died in 1965. It was the saddest time in my life. He never met my wife or my boys or knew what I did with my life. My mom, Irma, played some tennis and in 1949 she beat me at the park and then retired from tennis. My parents always kidded me about that. Mom died in 2004 at 95. In 1965 I met Rollie Jones. She’d come to the park to watch on summer evenings. After playing, I’d sit with her and some of the guys on the benches outside the courts under the street lights and talk till 10 or 11 p.m. We were married in August 1965. The best thing that ever happened to me! Our sons, Bobby, Gordie and Andy, learned tennis at the park and became good – all three All Staters for me at Cranston East. Gordie was undefeated in high school singles – four times singles and doubles champion and record six Rhode Island Metropolitan Tennis Championships. I ran the tournament for 43 years. Great players from New England and around the U.S. and some foreign countries came to play in it. I captained the Roger Williams Rhode Island Tennis League team for 25 years. There was a span of eight years when I was undefeated at No. 1 for the park team in league matches.