Plaque Commemorating Ralph Grieco Dedicated

At the Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA in Atlanta, GA, this past Friday, on April 21, a beautiful NSMTA commissioned plaque commemorating Ralph Grieco’s love of tennis and assistance to others was dedicated. The plaque will hang in an alcove dedicated to racquet sports, “Donors” and “Athletes” of which Ralph was both. Ralph’s wife Kristy, daughter Lisa, son Robert and wife Andrea were joined by friends Hugh and Susan Thomson, Kip Lehman, Dom Masciantonio from the Georgia Tennis Foundation, Debbie Kennedy from the Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation, Jill Morris Director of the Y, her staff and Pattie and Noble Hendrix from the NSMTA. The plaque honors Ralph and is illustrative of the joint effort by Kristy, and the Grieco family with the NSMTA that has also created the Ralph Grieco Tennis Fund to spread Ralph’s love of a lifetime of playing tennis to others. To date the fund has provided assistance to after school programs teaching tennis at the Carl Sanders Family YMCA, Georgia Tennis Foundation scholarships to tennis players going off to college and the Atlanta Youth Tennis & Education Foundation youth program that teaches tennis to those in financial need.

Ralph began his tennis experience in Florida as a thirteen year old at Miami Beach High School on public courts without the financial resources for lessons and formal training. He grew to love the game and became a good player. A scholarship to Rollins College followed where he studied physics and earned an MBA. He continuedto play tennis and went on to finish his formal education at Columbia University studying Electrical Engineering. He had a successful 38 year career at BellSouth and continued to play tennis regularly. Through the years he continued to be a high nationally ranked player by the USTA in both singles and doubles. He combined his love of tennis, photography and dancing and was a regular player at many National USTA events where he was also the tournament photographer and danced adroitly at the player dinner. He was light on his feet, had an infectious smile, spread joy where ever he went and was a true gentleman. He is remembered for his efforts to help others less fortunate to learn and enjoy tennis. His sudden passing was a shock.

Come and join us with your contribution in honor of Ralph to the Ralph Grieco Tennis Fund so that this good work can extend to more young players that they might have the opportunity of a journey in tennis like Ralph.