Participating Tennis Family of the Year, awarded to Rose Buck ScalamandreThirty years ago a young energetic Rose Buck assumed the management responsibilities of a four court tennis facility built by her brothers Fred and Joe.
With the support of her loving husband Robert, her two children Elizabeth and Peter, her brothers, and the backing of a supportive family, she set out to make tennis an inclusive sport. Her goal was not only to develop a competitive business in very difficult market, but to make tennis available to all in the south shore communities of Long Island. Keeping true to her goal Rose ensured that all who had an interest in tennis were given a chance to play. Rose donates free court time to Emily Moore and the Alliance Jr. Tennis in Roosevelt. This program has given many students the opportunity to play tennis and be awarded scholarships to colleges where they have since graduated and have become professionals. She also provides affordable court time to local high schools, various Parent Teacher Association from Freeport, Merrick, Baldwin, and Bellmore, various religious groups, Freeport and other communities Police Athletic Leagues, and the Freeport and Merrick Knights of Columbus. Freeport Indoor Tennis has also been the host site of the Freeport Chamber of Commerce board meetings, the training site for aspiring tennis professionals qualifying for the US Open, and the host testing site of the United States Professional Tennis Association. As a USTA member club she hosted numerous level 1-2-3 junior tennis tournaments, USTA adult teams (including a women's 4.0 which competed at the Nationals level), and a number of 3.0, 3.5; 6.0; 8.0; 9.0 teams that competed at the sectional level. The beauty of this all is that Rose Buck was like a pineapple, prickly on the outside but loving, caring and a generous spirit on the inside. Rose Buck lost a valiant battle to lung cancer in October of last year but I am confident that she is looking down at us, and is proud of her part in helping spread the joy of tennis to all the members of our community. | |
Craig Fligstein: Volunteer Of The Year
Craig Fligstein is the Suffolk Delegate for the USTA Long Island Regional Board.
In the past he has volunteered his time helping children from the Suffolk County foster care system to learn to play tennis at a programs administered by United Way of Long Island, which he founded. In 2006, Craig was ranked number 7 in the men’s 25 singles Eastern Section. Craig is the principal of CSF Group, a consulting firm dedicated to helping metro-NY nonprofit agencies solve critical strategic issues and accelerate growth. Since 1997, Craig has helped to raise over $35 million in funding. Craig holds a master’s degree in political science and master’s degree in social work. He is a board member of the Health and Welfare Council and an advisory board member to Long Island University | |
Tennis Family Of The Year: The Walsh Family
WITH FIVE FAMILY MEMBERS PLAYING THE GAME WE ALL LOVE, THE EXPRESSION, "THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER" WAS MADE FOR THE WALSHES.
DAN HAS BEEN AN AVID 4.0 TENNIS PLAYER FOR YEARS. ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WINTHROP HOSPITAL, HE STILL FINDS TIME TO BE ON THE COURT. ANN IS THE CLASSIC TENNIS MOM: GETTING HER THREE CHILDREN TO EVERY PRACTICE, EVERY TOURNAMENT AND CHEERING THEM ON. DANIELLE, 17, IS THE #1 PLAYER AT HER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND HAS MADE IT TO THE STATES TWICE. MARYSA, 14, IS HER HIGH SCHOOL'S #2 PLAYER AND WENT TO THE STATES LAST YEAR. JUST HAVING SWTCHED FROM SOCCER TO TENNIS, MARYSA HAS A #125 RANKING IN THE SECTION GIRLS 14'S AND #14 IN THE REGIONALS WITH WINS OVER TOP 10 REGIONALLY RANKED GIRLS INCLUDING #1. ANDREW, 11, FINISHED RANKED # 36 AND #1 IN THE BOY'S 10 AND UNDER HAVING WON 5 TOURNAMENTS AND FINALED IN 3 IN THE 10'S. ALL THE WALSH KIDS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TENNIS PROMOTIONS INCLUDING "ROCK & RALLY" IN 2003 AND A U. S. OPEN PROMO EVENT LAST YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WALSH FAMILY! | |
Co-Junior Vounteers Of The Year: Jen Smith and Kristina Maimis
BETHPAGE TENNIS BELIEVES IN THE IMPORTANCE
OF PROVIDING TENNIS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
DISABLED COMMUNITY. EACH WEEK ONE OF THE
CLUB'S ADVOCACY PROGRAMS IS CONDUCTED WITH
THE COOPERATION OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
OF NEW YORK.
JEN SMITH AND KRISTINA MAIMIS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TIRELESSLY AND GENEROUSLY TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM MEANINGFUL. THEY INSTRUCT, DRILL, PLAY AND MENTOR THEIR STUDENTS, WHO EACH WEEK LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. CONGRATULATIONS JEN AND KRISTINA. | |
Bob Zuckerman, winner of the Community Special Service Award
Bob Zuckerman, former owner of Marvin & Sons Jewelers, was for many years Chairman of the South Shore Sweethearts Tennis Tournament which had 16 different competitive divisions. The event was held at Sportime in Atlantic Beach and raised more than $175,000.00 each year to benefit the American Diabetes Foundation.
Bob now has a new store in Merrick, Zuckerman's Fine Jewelry, where a percentage of certain sales are donated to the Marty Lyons Foundation. (Marty Lyons is a former Jet player who started the foundation.) Bob is a longtime supporter of this foundation which raises money to fulfill wishes of critically ill children. (Talk about giving back to the community!!) | |
Alan Anderson: Nassau County Scholastic Coach Of The Year
Twenty some odd years ago when Alan took over the Boy's Tennis Program at Freeport High School he barely had enough players to complete a team roster. Through the years, interest in Boy's Tennis has grown and for most of his coaching at Freeport he had the privilege of working with about 30 boys each season.
As a team he has achieved six conference champions and four scholar athlete tennis teams. He had two undefeated seasons but most importantly he had the enjoyment of working with hundreds of young tennis players that he saw grow into accomplished gentlemen. Coaching has always been fun for him and he has tried to transfer that enjoyment to his players. In addition to coaching at Freeport High School, he was involved for four years with the USTA Junior Team Tennis Summer Program. Tennis has always been an important part of his life and each year he anxiously awaits the beginning of the tennis season looking forward to seeing what new stars he will be coaching. | |
|
|