Former NESTF Board Member and Tournament Player Ken Rickson Passed Away on December 10

Ken Rickson, a long time player on the New England tennis scene, died December 10. He was 82.

Ken participated in the founding of NESTF at the first Board of Directors' meeting on September 14, 1995 at which NESTF was organized and the Articles of Organization were approved. At the meeting on December 4, 1996, Ken told the Board that he had secured dates in June 1997 for a "model" senior tournament to be held at the Quincy Tennis Club. Ken had persuaded the powers that be at the Quincy Tennis Club to hold a senior tournament at that facility. There were to be 16 singles entrants and 8 doubles teams with play to start 1:00 on Friday  and continue through Sunday afternoon.

NESTF sponsorship was made clear; trophies and clothing displayed the NESTF sponsorship. Ken worked to provide amenities (lunch, social time) and ran the tournament so as to minimize waiting, as well as pictures of winners and runners-up and consolation matches. These were ideas discussed by the Board but it was Ken who stepped up and agreed to translate the discussion into reality.  NESTF provided financial support for the event; e.g. entry fees were $20 for singles and $22 for doubles. This support is one of the fundamental goals of NESTF according to the vision of the organization, and Ken should be recognized for his contributions that included running the tournament until 2005 and assisting thereafter. The Quincy senior tournament is still being run at the Quincy Tennis Club in June.

Ken also served as Chairman of the Adult Players Committee of USTA/NE for six years before George Ulrich, the current Chairman.

An obituary from the Boston Globe is below.

RICKSON, Kenneth B. Age 82, of Quincy died Friday, December 10, 2010 at the Coyne Healthcare Center in Rockland, surrounded by his loving family, after a long illness. Beloved husband for sixty years of Mildred H. (Vickers) Rickson. Devoted father of Kenneth O. Rickson of Hobe Sound, FL, Jane A. McGuinness and her husband Mark of Scituate, Sally A. Goldman and her husband Stephen of Milton, and Linda S. Savage and her husband David of Quincy. Loving grandfather of James Rickson, Lauren Rickson, Benjamin McGuinness, Molly McGuinness, Gregory Goldman, Diana McDevitt and her husband Brady, Leah Goldman, Maxwell DeVoe, and Mallory DeVoe. A Memorial Service will be conducted at the Bethany Congregational Church, 18 Spear Street, Quincy, Saturday, December 18th at 1pm. Reverend William C. Harding III, Pastor, will officiate. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Immediately following Mr. Rickson's memorial service, relatives and friends are invited to attend a reception also at the church. Visiting Hours have been omitted. Interment will take place privately prior to the memorial service at Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Rickson's memory may be made to the Bethany Congregational Church, 18 Spear Street, Quincy, MA 02169. Late World War II United States Army Veteran. You are invited to visit www.thesweeneybrothers.com.

Published in The Boston Globe from December 15 to December 16, 2010