JANE BROWN GRIMES​

Reading the background of Jane Brown Grimes, one has to be impressed by her many years of off court experience in tennis. She comes across as a savvy CEO playing at the top of her game, which is exactly who she is. This past January, Jane began serving a two-year term as the President and Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA). She previously served on the association's board of directors as the first vice president, director at large and secretary-treasurer.

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After an early stint as a reporter and a researcher for Life magazine, Jane opted for a career in tennis. She has loved the sport all of her life and has said often that one of her fondest childhood memories was playing tennis all day, all summer long, on the local tennis courts near her Long Island home. At summer's end, she and her family would hop into the car to go to the U.S. National Championships at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. They would spend the entire day there watching greats such as Maureen Connolly, Althea Gibson and the famous Aussies.

One of Jane's 16 first cousins said: "Legend in the family has it that Jane's grandparents used to host Jean Borotra, one of the famous French four Musketeers (Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet, Rene Lacoste being the other three) in their Long Island home when they were here to play in the national championships...A passion for tennis has always been in the family genes!"

Jane's brother Sam Gillespie remembers well the trips to Forest Hills. "We would wander the grass courts outside the ivy covered stadium to watch the best amateurs of the day practice and compete," he said. "We would often bring our own racquets (wooden of course) and wear whites on the off-chance that one of the competitors might hit some practice balls with us...During those years Jane competed successfully in (mixed doubles) tournaments, except on those occasions when she was paired with her brother...She has always been devoted to the successful evolution of...tennis."

Only Jane knows exactly what triggered her passion for helping to shape the game, but the record shows that in 1977 she opened the New York office of the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF). By 1981, she was named the executive director of the organization. During her tenure there she functioned as the toura-ment director for both the ATP and WTA Tour events. From 1986-1991, she served as the managing director of the Women's Tennis Council, after which she returned to the International Hall of Fame as its president and chief executive officer, from 1991-2000. Today she is President Emeritus of the organization.

John Reese, who has served concurrently with Brown Grimes for over 20 years in lofty positions on the ITHF board - most notably, as president/chairman and CEO (Reese). and as president and COO/CEO (Brown Grimes) - described his friend as extraordinary. "The thing about Jane," Reese said, "is that not only has she held prominent positions in tennis for almost 30 years.. these are positions that require intelligence and diplomatic skills. Jane understands her audience and can draw them out in a way that no one's feelings are hurt.

Besides those attributes, she has the charm and common sense that any chief executive officer has to have. Not an easy combination and she has it. "Jane's late husband Charlie Grimes was very supportive of her progression - from the president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame to president of the USTA. He was a wonderful counsel. a real partner and very proud of Jane. Her success was his success." Mark Stenning, chairman of the international Tennis Hall of Fame, has watched Jane in action and, like Reese, appreciates the range of her administrative abilities. "Jane's legacy at the Hall of Fame is unmatched," Stenning said. "She joined the organization at a time when funding was in short supply, the buildings were deteriorating in Newport and there was little public awareness. As president, Jane oversaw the renovation and restoration of the historic Newport Casino complex, the creation of a world-class Hall of Fame museum and the formation of a strong and supportive board of directors.

“I have had the privilege of working with Jane for over 25 years and have enjoyed her friendship and counsel. And we are fortunate and grateful that Jane is still involved with the Hall of Fame as our President Emeritus."

Jane will tell anyone who asks that she has always had a racquet in her hand, and still tries to play in two games a week, so it follows that a major priority in her presidency will be to reenergize the schools program. She also plans to create more innovative strategies with the USTA board and committees to increase tennis participation among all ages through local community pro-grams, and to make the sport more inclusive and open to everyone. To meet this grand challenge, Jane has said that she will continue the campaign to support tennis in the parks, as well as all of the other programs, but that her main focus will definitely be the schools. "My dream would be to have tennis be the sport of choice for kids from seven to 12, she has said. "The way we're trying to do that is (by continuing] to introduce tennis in the physical education classes... By far, the number one thing is the tennis in the schools."

Tennis programs build on each other within the tennis progression. Kids go from the school gymnasium to after school programs in the public parks and sign up for Junior TeamTennis. Some players eventually compete on their school teams and in tournaments. To make sure that the tennis progression remains a visible option within communities' sports programs, Jane plans to institute an advocacy task force so that when funds become available for local recreation centers, tennis advocates will be able to lobby in support of public tennis courts. "The swimmers are there, the soccer moms are there Jane Brown Grimes and it's time for the tennis players U.S. Tennis Association to be there," she said.

Jane also believes strongly in the power of tennis to change lives. She is a member of the board of the Rodney Street Tennis and Tutoring Association, a community tennis association in Wilmington, Delaware, and has said that the children affiliated with the program are truly at-risk kids. "Some of them come to us from the homeless shelter." she said in a recent interview. "And I can tell you we're making a difference in these kids' lives. Long after I have departed the USTA presidency, I know that I will still be part of this group, because I can honestly see what tennis has brought to these kids in terms of pride and confidence and self respect. It's helped keep them in school and helped them bridge the gap." Members of Jane's family attest unanimously to her ability to meet challenges - especially in tennis.

“When Jane was young she decided she was going to win the...tennis championship [at our local courts]." said her cousin Hester Weeden, who played tennis with her during their childhood. "And, in typical fashion, it was a done deal in a blink of an eye. The rest of the family struggled for years to win it and I for one never did. This only confirms what we all know - Jane usually achieves what she sets out to do." Her cousin, Connie Hildesley, added: "It is no surprise to any of us that Jane is focusing her efforts on tennis for children and advocacy. Many of the cousins were able to spend summers together growing up in Long Island. Inspired by a local coach, Fred Eisler, we played tennis from dawn to dusk, until the ball was no longer visible and all you could see were the fireflies. Once, when we were on a spring break in Bermuda some professional tennis players were there for an exhibition tournament. Jane had the opportunity to talk with... Pancho Gonzalez, Ken Rosewall and others for as long as they would listen." Jane's brother Sam remembers the trip well.".. The newly-turned pros were staying at the same hotel," he said.

Barry MacKay had just moved from being a top amateur to a professional... in those days there was no 'open tennis' and the fledgling pro tour was more like a small, traveling corps of prior top flight amateurs playing exhibition matches against each other...Jane spent time listening to those players talk about their aspirations of what the game could become... "But there was another strong call for Jane during these teenage years, and that was sailing. While our mother set an example for us as a good competitive... tennis player, our father was a passionate racer of sailboats (and sails his own boat to this day). He recognized in Jane the ability and dexterity required to do the deck work on his 32-foot Atlantic class sail-boat. This required balancing precariously on a wet, slanted deck in high seas, setting a massive spinnaker with spinnaker pole while rounding a mark in close quarters with other racing boats. Our father in almost every circumstance I can recall is the most mild-mannered gentleman I know; however, in the course of these heated races he took on a wholly different personality. I think Jane's ability to withstand the elements, the pressure and the yelling while coolly performing each challenging task on the deck of that ship has stood her well in the tests she has faced in life since then."

DONALD RUBELL​

Trying to keep pace with Don Rubell as he expounds on his changing lifestyle in the diverse roles of amateur tennis champion, mathematician, prominent New York physician, hotel proprietor and world-renowned contemporary art collector - all while he's busy pursuing these passions en route to California from Florida, to New York, Ireland, Berlin, Washington and back again -'makes one's head spin.

Several constants define Rubell. The tone of his quick, dry sense of humor suggests that he's an empathetic guy. His family is all-important, so he and the entire Rubell clan promote the family's ventures together. He credits his wife Mera for "attempting to teach me everything I did not know.. but that may be a lost cause." And striving for excellence on the tennis court has been an intricate part of the Rubell family lifestyle for four generations.

In addition to Don's credentials, his father Phil was once a runner up in the over-90 world tennis championships; his brother Steve played No. 1 for Syracuse University: his son Jason was an All-American learning the game. By the mid-1950's, Don was a student at Wingate High School in Brooklyn and led his team to victory at the New York City Tennis Championships. He represented Easter in the national Tilton Bow team competition, ranked among the country's top ten juniors and was a repeat winner in Eastern boys' 15 and 18 tournaments. He admits, though, that he lost, 6-0, 6-0, in the first round of the first two events he entered and once choked away a 6-0, 5-0 lead while playing Steve Green at the national junior indoors.

He attended Cornell University, where he played first singles and was the captain of the tennis team. He was also twice the Eastern Intercollegiate tennis champ. lost only once in a dual match - to Donald Dell of Yale - and was the president of the Comell Mathematics Society. "I always liked tennis and mathematics." Rubell said. "Guess I was only half a nerd. "As for my tennis game, I will talk about anything but my forehand. It's still a work in progress."

He graduated from Cornell in 1961, took a job as an actuary with Metropolitan Life and played the Eastern men's open circuit. He later enrolled in medical school at New York University and completed his ObGyn residency there. During those educational years he confined his tennis to the East but competed in the U.S. National Championships at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills and at the Easter Grass Courts in South Orange. N.J. He won singles titles at the New York States, the Eastern Hard Courts and Clay Courts and ranked third in the East behind Gene Scott and Herb Fitz Gibbon, followed by Richard Raskind (now Renee Richards) and Bob Barker.

“Those rankings were representative of the era, said Richards, who recently uncovered tennis records among her late father's papers. "Most of that group was ranked in the top ten for ten years."

From 1973 to 1975, Rubell was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corps, a member of the Air Force tennis team and won the U.S. Military Interservice Championships. From 1975 to 1999, he practiced ObGyn in New York City and also chaired the Gynecology Department at the Cabrini Medical Center, lectured at the Beth Israel Medical Center, was an assistant professor at the N.YU. School of Medicine and was named several times among New York magazine's list of best doctors in New York. During those years he won the USTA and Eastern men's 45 Clay Courts and represented the U.S. in the Dubler Cup and in team competition versus South America.

In Rubell's early N.Y.U. days. Richards was in residency training at the Lenox Hill and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospitals and the pair escaped often to the tennis courts during lunch breaks. "I'd pick Don up at the Midtown Tunnel and he'd be standing there in his whites," Richards has said. "We'd go to Queens. find a court and then go back to the hospital...Sometimes we'd go up to Baker field at Columbia and play with Dick Savitt, Ham Richardson and Paul Cranis.

"Don started out as a little guy and learned a retrieving, defensive game, but when he was 21 he grew to 6-foot-3 and developed a big serve and volley. He learned that he could win points quicker that way and his backhand became great. Bobby Riggs once said that Don's backhand was like (Pancho] Gonzalez."

Rubell has described some memorable victories and losses, a few with his amusing slant: Wins - 1. beat future U.S. Davis Cup player Allen Fox in a 4-hour junior match, 15-13 in the third, after Fox tried to default at 7-all: 2. defeated Vitas Gerulaitis at the 7th Regiment Armory Indoors. Scheduled to play Vitas on lightening fast wood and intimidated by his incredible reflexes and volleys, Don figured "my best chance was arrange for unlimited tickets the night before at Stu-i 54. It worked brilliantly. I don't think Vitas woke p before the next to last game of the match;" 3. pre-ailed over Dick Stockton at the N. Y. State Indoors the rest time they played. Next time out, Stockton had itched to the T-2000, Don was barely able to see the all and never beat him again; 4. routed Tim Coss, reputed to be the world's steadiest player, at the Eastern Clay Courts. Don's father said that if Don could beat Coss at his own game from the get-go it could disconcert him. The first point lasted 174 shots before Coss missed; Don won the match easily.

Every player can relate to No. 5, when Rubell, at ;, upset the veteran Sid Schwartz. "Sid just banged every ball for a winner," he said. "It was not until the middle of the second set that Sid realized most of his shots were missing. I figured if I did not say anything, he might forget he was losing... everybody who was watching also thought Sid was winning. After the match, Sid walked to the net post, systematically broke all of his racquets and threatened to give up tennis forever." In other wins, Rubell beat both Butch Seewagen and Sandy Mayer at the New York State Championships and once edged Tony Vincent in the finals of the Eastern Men's Clay Courts in Hackensack. Richards was there and recalled the match: "They were both steady baseliners, clay court experts, so it was a grueling contest. After four hours, Tony went up 5-1 in the fifth set. The tournament committee figured the match was over.. they brought out a table, put a white cloth and the winner's silver cup on it and placed it next to the umpire's stand. Don, usually a placid man, looked at it and got mad. He suddenly started serving and volleying and won six games in a row to win the match."

Don included three good losses - "It's an oxymoron, I know," he said: 1. lost to Butch Buchholz at Perth Amboy, 9-7 in the third; 2. surrendered to Larry Nagler 3 times in one week, due to rainouts. Don figured it was probably a world record; he had match point in the third match and decided not to ruin the world record; and 3. lost to Wimbledon and Australian singles champ Alex Olmedo at the South Orange Grass Courts. "It was my best tournament," said Rubell, who upset 3 seeded players and played Olmedo in the semis. "It was one of the first televised matches. Somehow, I was up a break and 4-3 in the first set. On the change-over, I tripped on the TV wire, looked up to find myself staring at the TV camera and never won another game."

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By the early 1990's, Don and Mera decided to enter the hotel business in partnership with their children, Jason and Jennifer, and to focus on their extensive art collection in Florida. *We wanted to work together as a family, to pool our talents," said Rubell, who for five years endured the New York/Florida weekend commute until he retired in 1999 from his medical practice. "Mera and I have collected art together since we were married 42 years ago and the kids have been involved in the process since they were about 13. Now we collect as a family.?"

The art collection, open to the public, is housed in the [40,000-foot] Rubell Family Collection Museum in Miami and contains over 5,000 works, which are exhibited on a rotating basis. During the past year, the museum has hosted over 40,000 visitors. The collection is so well known, in fact, that the Art Review has named Rubell 29th on a list of the 100 most important people in the art world and the collection itself as the fifth most important in the world. Don Rubell has been listed among the most influential people in the art world by Art & Auction magazine, Art News, Basel Zeitung and Frankfurter Allegmaine, among others.

Not a bad lifestyle and pretty good credentials for a guy who started out liking tennis and mathematics and labeled himself only half a nerd.

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