What a wonderful tennis family reunion built by Dennis and Pat Van der Meer, filled with laughter, hugs, and tears. Everyone was so thrilled to see one another, just as mentioned in our previous emails.

The early check-in was truly nostalgic. As members arrived with smiles, the USTA Coaching team offered them a welcoming drink and delicious hors d’oeuvres to enhance the gathering. They couldn’t have timed it better.

Gregg Presuto captivated the Welcoming Ceremony with his amazing storytelling and Dennis’s mimicry. He established a positive tone and energy for the event. Scott Tharp, PTR Foundation Chair, and Mike Skinner also gave wonderful welcoming speeches.

Samir Mahir effectively demonstrated the tools and tips needed to teach visually impaired or low-vision athletes. The attendees left with a greater appreciation and understanding of how to successfully work with visually impaired athletes.

Next, Kyle LaCroix and Kameron DeHart asked challenging yet focused questions to the panelists. On Court, Tina Tharp will always teach and talk with her racquet in her hand, and Eddie Parker will remember the significance of May 8th.

Dennis always played at the end of the day. To simulate this, Louie organized a Round Robin event with 12 participants, and they all had a fabulous time.

Friday Events:
The Original International Master Professional took the stage, and Scott placed a chair in memory of Gene Holland. We could sense the underlying excitement of being together. Kyle and Kalindi did a fabulous job keeping the discussion engaging. We learned when and why Louie began to run, and now he has completely taken it to the nth level.

Lisa LaCroix’s engagement with special-needs athletes was one of a kind. Her teaching methodology is thoughtful – having the students communicate with each other – It’s your turn, Rianna. makes it fun and productive. Asking the student, “May I help you?” instead of telling them what they are doing wrong is something all coaches should adopt.

During the event, the star-studded women took the stage to chat with Kyle and Kalindi. Tina, Jean, Helma, and Elizma agreed that Dennis challenged them because he knew they would succeed in getting the job done. When it comes to finances, Helma should be in charge, as she is meticulous about managing the profit and loss, ensuring every penny is accounted for.

Dr. Jack Groppel, a moderate risk-taker, shared with Kyle and Jessica that continuing to support Dennis’s legacy means being ‘curious’ and not sitting on the sidelines, assuming everything will take care of itself.

Ajay’s 1-on-1 conversation with Cameron felt like watching a black-and-white movie. Cameron recalls, “Listening to Ajay speak about his tennis mentors showed how deeply their guidance shaped his mindset and character. Great to get a reminder of how important it is to have people guide you in the right direction.”

On behalf of USTA Coaching, Butch Staples and Steve Keller discussed their program and its goals for 2026 and beyond, and gave attendees a one-year USTA Coaching membership worth $149. Thank you, USTA Coaching!

As Scott Mitchell acted as the audience facilitator, friends and family made the awards dinner on Friday night truly memorable by sharing their amusing personal stories about Dennis. Dr. Jim Loehr’s heartfelt video, a tribute to Dennis’s remarkable contributions throughout his life, set the tone for the evening. Lynne Salus’s beautiful centerpiece added to the perfect atmosphere. After John Raker’s speech about Dennis in the Hall of Fame, Louie and Ajay toasted with champagne to honor Dennis’s highest award. Jean Mills presented Helma with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her 50 years of dedication and passion for the PTR. She was the highlight of the evening, delivering an outstanding speech about her experiences at the PTR. Jack Barker then announced Samir Mahir, the President of the Blind Tennis Association, as the recipient of the Dennis and Pat PTR Foundation Humanitarian Award for his commitment to bringing tennis to visually impaired and low-vision athletes.

Saturday events:
After a few years, Berhe and Steve resumed their conversation as they used to. Berhe described his life journey as a ‘stock market’, illustrating his resilience and hard work. The celebration isn’t complete until we see Louie Cap and Ken DeHart leading a drill session.

The players had a thorough workout and left with a correction to focus on, just as Dennis taught us.

The event ended with a heartfelt thank-you from our board member, Ajay Pant, to everyone who attended.

We are grateful…
To the PTR Foundation board for hosting the event. They made this legacy event possible. The event ran smoothly thanks to the support and guidance of the committee: Jack Barker, Junie Chatman, Jean Mills, and Leonie Turack.

We are grateful to the moderators for all their hard work in making this event engaging and for their diplomacy in handling emotional discussions. We appreciate all the panelists for sharing their experiences and support.

A big shout-out to OnCourtOffCourt for giving attendees bags with coupon gift cards inside ($25 off an order of $50+). We couldn’t have done it without the VanderMeer Shipyard Racquet Club, Mike and staff, who provided the perfect setting for a truly unforgettable experience.

Annie Miller visited her archives to share hundreds of pictures with us, providing a truly nostalgic experience. Chris Jones and the NYPD tennis team, Chris, Leon, and Mauvin, assisted with all aspects of the event.

Royce Silvan, our event DJ, was beyond amazing. His song selection was appropriate for each session. At the start of the event, he played ‘Celebration’ by the Kool & The Gang, which was spot on. Throughout the celebration, Royce played with professionalism, enthusiasm, and contagious positivity that were truly exceptional.

Curtis Aho captured all our memorable moments beautifully. Ernie Quarles thoughtfully collected everyone’s signatures to create a keepsake for us to cherish. Todd Holway for creating the registration webpage to sending this email. Todd does it all behind the scenes.

Carolyn, the owner of Amigos, provided an excellent lunch on Thursday. The taco bar, make-your-own burritos, rice, and guacamole were outstanding. Many guests appreciated Sonesta’s coffee selection as the weather turned colder. We concluded Thursday with a hibachi-style shrimp and chicken dinner prepared by Alex Vito. His team put on an entertaining show for the guests.

Roy’s Place ensured we had plenty of wine, beer, sodas, and spa water. They also provided delicious wraps for Friday lunch and a pasta bar for Friday dinner. Additionally, Sonesta offered an amazing breakfast spread, featuring both cold and hot breakfast items to start the day