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LMTC Member Updates

 Thank-you from the Websters (7/23/2007)

Dear LMTC
We made it safely to North Carolina and are busy setting up our new home (apartment) and there is relatively little humidity and I haven't even seen any bugs yet. I'm looking forward to using the battery operated bug zapper Bernadette Hudor gave us.
We wanted to say thank you for the beautiful send-off and the lovely gifts.
It's been a joy and pleasure knowing you all and we take so many fond memories with us.
Please drop us an email - we'll be stopping by the courts when we're back in town.
Fond regards to you all
Donna and David Webster

Thank-you from Agnes Johnson

To the La Mirada Tennis Club; Receiving th large display of beautiful flowers meant so much to me in my time of sorrow. Seeing so many of you present was a great comfort, too. I am blessed to have such devoted friends.

I send my love, Agnes

Son of LMTC Member Ray Mireles Receives Prestigious Honor

Matt Mireles, a junior at Columbia University and contributor to the Daily Spectator, was presented with the Eric Breindel Award for Excellence in Opinion Journalism. Matt created a multimedia presentation called "The Faces of Iraq," which tells the dramatic and often-haunting stories of dozens of Columbia students with personal experience in the Iraq war as soldiers, filmmakers, aid workers or innocent civilians. You can see his work at facesofiraq.com. The Eric Breindel Award includes a $10,000 check and a summer internship at the Fox News Channel.

Gerardo Lopez and Walter Romanowski both won their semi-final matches in the 4.0 Singles Ladder Championship. Gerardo won over Kenny Hachiya who was subbing for Kevin Komphonh. Walter beat Chris Gabion in a tough hard fought 3 setter. Walter’s win would be considered an upset when you realize that Chris had dominated the Singles Ladder for most of the year. He had just recently lost the No. 1 position to Gerardo.

On this day the weather was just perfect for tennis. It was slightly overcast and not to warm. Walter ran into some bad luck during the warm up. He broke the strings on his two rackets. Lucky he had a racket at home that he called for and was able to play with.

The match got started and Gerardo had no trouble winning the first set 6-2. Walter getting used to his racket responded with some tough shots and won the second set rather handily 6-2.

Outside of breaking the strings on his two rackets during the warm up, everything else worked fine for Walter and he hung on to win the championship match; 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Congratulations to Walter Romanowski for winning the mug; emblematic of the 4.0 Singles Ladder Championship.

Game Photos

The 4.0 Singles Ladder Championship Final

8/10/2006
Robert (Bob) Lugo

To many of you, as it did to me, this will come as a total surprise and a very sad one at that. I was stunned to hear that Bob Lugo had passed away. It is even more tragic when you realize that he was only 53. Only the Good Lord knows why Bob was taken in the prime of life. It was only a few days ago that I asked him if he was going to play in the Pico Rivera Inter-club match. He assured me that he was. I have a better understanding now of why he didn't show up. Bob has been a member of the LaMirada Tennis Club close to twenty years. He has also been amember of the Greater Whittier Tennis Club. Bob has always been a good ambassador for the game of tennis. He had a very good knowledge of the game, and more important was always a gentleman on the courts.

He enjoyed playing competitive mixed doubles and he and Susan Devens entered many tournaments. Just recently he teamed up to play with Kathy Martinez in the La Mirada Tennis Club Charity Doubles Tournament. For a time there he and Gerardo Lopez played a number of single matches even when it was sunny and hot.

Bob had a quiet demeanor, but that didn’t keep him from being an enthusiastic fan of professional teams in Los Angeles. I think the Lakers were his favorite team.

It was not unusual to see him sitting in his car reading the daily sports section. He was knowledgeable in all aspects of the sports world and he demonstrated it recently with his knowledge of the World Cup Soccer Tournament. I would sometimes over hear him talking to Roberto about the chances of the team from Mexico in the World Cup.

One thing that Bob and I had in common was that we were loyal UCLA fans; in spite of the dominance of the Trojans. Bob was also great with little kids and I know that little Dominique Acosta will miss him.

I also want to acknowledge the fact that he helped develop my daughter Anna’s game when she was playing in the Juniors. He hit with her many times. We will always remember Bob and the LaMirada Tennis Club has lost an outstanding member.

4/25/2006

Hello Friends at La Mirada Tennis Club It is hard to believe that we left California almost 3 months ago!!!!. Time really flies when you are having a good time. We are enjoying our new home and the surroundings.People are friendly and warm hearted. We have made some tennis connections and getting to know the way around . This past weekend I played in a charity tournament on clay courts at a beautiful tennis and golf resort. I played doubles in the "A" division and lost in the first round 6-7, 4-6.. Martha and Dominique had a great time at the pool getting a sun tan. Close to home we have a park which wi ll have 13 tennis courts by the end of the month. So, tennis wi ll be there for us to enjoy. We miss you a ll at the La Mirada Tennis Club. We always felt like family members, and this feeling will never go away. Because we do not have a computer at home yet, we are not able to send you any pictures at this time, but promise soon wi ll do. Love you guys !!!!!!! Martha , Dominique, Guillermo . By the way..... Dominique is doing just fine. She is going to school, and on weekends playing a little bit of tennis. You can contact the Acosta's at memotila@aol.com



1/16/2006
Hi Nick It's great seeing you at & on the courts walking with a 'skip in your stride' after your recent knee surgery! Donna and David Webster
A Match for the Ages - Susan Devens & Guillermo Acosta

9/17/2005 - Note from Ruel:
We really appreciated the beautiful flowers and signed card from members of the Club. Neta is doing much better now with regard to getting around as there was no physical impairment associated with the stroke. She is in therapy 3 days a week now trying to relearn all the things she has forgotten. As the bleed that occured in her brain is absorbed by her body, she is beginning to recall much of the 'lost' information. Other information has to be relearned and re-stored in a new area of her brain. We laugh a lot about the situation, she has a good attitude about it.
But once again, we really appreciate your thoughtfulness. I am beginning to be able to leave her alone for an hour or so, therefore, I will be at the courts more often again to see my friends and play a little tennis.
Warm regards,
Ruel
Ruel Wagner
It is unusual when Ruel is not one of the first players on the courts in the morning. On Tuesday morning, surprisingly, I was there before him. I saw him comming down the walkway about ½ hour later. I thought this was strange but I was soon to find out why. When he got to the gate he called me over and told me the sad news--that his wife, Neta, had suffered a stroke while they were in Utah. He said that she was placed in intensive care and she is at home now. She is able to recognize relatives but she needs constant care. He said he was going over to hit the ball against the wall to get some exercise. He was able to do this because his daughter was attending to his wife. He also told me to tell the guys that he wouldn't be playing tennis for the next three months. Ruel is a gentleman on the courts and most of the time has something humorous to say. He will be missed not only for his excellent tennis game but also for his positive demeanor on the courts. We hope and pray that his wife Neta recovers soon.
Agnes Johnson
The effect of Hurricane Katrina is felt in La Mirada. Agnes Johnson, who grew up in Louisiana, still has relatives there. She told me that her relatives who live in New Orleans, with the exception of one, were able to get out before the storm hit. The one relative who chose to stay was eventually rescued from her rooftop. Agnes stays in touch by telephone, but finds it very emotionally heartbreaking. This is understandable with the enormous amount of devastation that took place. With news reports stating that people will not be able to go back for a period of months has got to be emotionally devastating. It is hard to imagine their predictament. We offer our prayers for Agnes' relatives and their safety. Hopefully many of us will find it in our hearts to make a monetary donation to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.