He attended Brooklyn Friends and graduated from Poly Prep Country Day School ’46. He attended Swarthmore College, graduated from Lewis and Clark ’51, and attended Columbia Graduate School.
Fred Taught English at Kiski School, worked at the Wall Street Journal, Merrill Lynch, and at the age of 37 became the head tennis and squash professional at the Heights Casino in Brooklyn, NY. He co-authored “Ed Faulkner’s Tennis, How to play it, how to teach it.” In 1980 he moved to Rochester, NY and was the head tennis and squash professional at the Genesee Valley Club. He was a member of The Heights Casino, past President of the NAPSA (North American Pro Squash Association), life member of the USTA, life member of the US Squash Association, and was inducted into the US Squash Hall of Fame in 2007. He taught hundreds of nationally ranked juniors including many national champions and collegiate players.
There will be no calling hours. A memorial will be arranged at the convenience of his family.
Carol,
We were sad to her the news which one of the old squash buddies sent; Arkansas is not right in the squash news loop.
I remember Fred kindly, patiently making the kids practice practice practice…because that is how you get to Carnegie Hall!
I remember two Carol stories well. what may have been the last time you and I played, with a bunch of your students in the gallery cheering you on, we got to the last point in the 5th. Long rally, both tired, and I misshit one off the wood. In the shape of a flat plate it hit the side wall and lurched unpredictably to graze the front wall. Unfair!!! But you were most gracious as always.
The 2nd helped my game for the rest of my life. An early league match in the D’s or C’s right after I joined the Casino was in counts without gallaries or air, hardball, just the 2 inch window to look through. He and I played 4 games forever as you couldn’t get the ball to die. Both near death at the break before the 5th, you eloquently said, “Well you’re both tired and both going to play the 5th, so you might as well win it.”
Brilliant.
That comment changed my attitude for that game, but also was instrumental in developing my attitude (ala John Sturman) that if you get to the 5th you can win it. I think my record in the 5th was above average. Thank you.
Best regards and warm thoughts,
Dick & Maggie Dearnley
Thank you Fred for your patience, humor and generosity. Thank you for lending me your car for my driver’s test — so sorry that woman sideswiped it on the way to the DMV.
Thank you for teaching me how to anticipate a drop shot and making me laugh by pretending to be annoyed when I anticipated yours.
Thank you for driving us teen Rochester squash players all over Canada for tournaments.
And thank you for still being in my head with a smile and a nod when I hit the ball right. Peace.
Carol, my heartfelt condolences.