I moved here to Ohio on January 1st, 2016, from San Antonio, Texas and it was snowing! The first thing my fiancé and I had done was look up tennis clubs close by the house so I could continue playing recreational competitive tennis, or at least hit a few balls. I found Peak Tennis Club just 7 minutes' drive from the house. Drove up there and Deb was the first person I met in Ohio, and the first tennis lady I met at the club, as she was working the front desk! Deb greeted me with her big smile and asked me what I was looking for out of the club. I told her Deb, "I want to be on a winning team. I want to go to nationals. I want to be a 4.5 by the time I move back to Texas in 6 years and I'm a 4.0 right now. I'll never forget how Deb smiled and said, "We can certainly do all of that right here!" Little did I know that Deb was recruiting me and looking up my USTA record, and looking on the computer, and on the phone at the front desk, and listening to you, all at the same time while smiling at you
I had my breast cancer diagnosis in May of 2016 and the first round of chemo in August and lost all of my hair the very first round. Deb was the very first person, besides my fiancé and family, I said that I had cancer. Deb rallied the tennis ladies around me and organized food to be brought over to my house. She knew how I loved Italian food and ordered, lasagna from Auggies. Deb checked in on me but was not overbearing. I continued to play tennis through the chemotherapy, when I could, which was crazy, I know now, but kept me sane mentally. Deb was one of my biggest supporters! I recovered and then Deb and I would do our Wednesday lunches and semi-private lessons together. Deb and I became very close during this time. I would bring Poise so Chocko could have a play date. We would talk about our grandchildren, which meant the world to Deb, then COVID hit, and Deb got cancer. She called Niki first, but she called me, and we talked about chemo treatments and medications and options. I checked on her but gave her space because I know my friend and I knew she was very private, so I gave her privacy. I was so thrilled to hear Deb's voice when she said she was going to start playing tennis again. I was so happy to see her!! She looked great! She was playing great tennis too!
The semi-private lessons paid off because we made it to the play offs! I'll never forget coming off that win and Stacey telling me how proud she was of Deb, Niki and me. All three of us being cancer survivors and all three of us being out on that court and our team winning!
Now time has come full circle my dear friend. Six years has come and gone like a breath of air but know that it is not our last! I will always carry you in my heart and in my mind and in my memories forever! I want you to know Deb that 2 out of 3 ain't bad! While I cannot be there physically for the memorial service that JoAnne has put together, please know that I am with you and your family in thoughts and prayers through this difficult time. Your friend in this lifetime and the next. Yvonne
P.S. Deb you were always fun to play doubles with and I'll always remember our Boardman win against Bianca where you pulled out the rules and nobody knows the rules better than you! She didn't know who she was messing with! lol
