On Monday, July 20, approximately 40 members of the club gathered for a heartfelt ceremony to dedicate a memorial bench in honor of longtime member and dear friend, Ava Charne. The beautiful gathering celebrated Ava's lasting impact on the Albany Tennis Club and the many friendships she formed throughout the years.

Members were deeply moved by touching tributes from Ava's close friend, Susan Bott, and her sister, Fonda, who traveled from Connecticut to participate in the dedication. Their words painted a picture of a woman whose warmth, generosity, and enthusiasm for life touched everyone she met.

In her remarks, Susan reflected on Ava's remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcome, saying that Ava believed "strangers were just friends she hadn't met yet." Whether on the tennis court or simply passing by, Ava had a gift for leaving people feeling better after every encounter.

Susan also recalled Ava's many contributions to the club. A hardworking and thoughtful leader, Ava served on the Board of Directors and was instrumental in founding the Morning Glories program. Her vision of creating an early morning tennis group before the workday proved to be a tremendous success and remains a popular part of club life today. Ava was also a longtime and cherished member of Susan's tennis group, continuing to play until illness prevented her from doing so last summer.

Ava passed away in November, but thanks to the generosity of club members, her memory will live on through the beautifully engraved bench bearing the words, "Forever in our hearts." It serves as a lasting reminder of a friend whose kindness, joy, and love for the Albany Tennis Club will never be forgotten.

The club extends its sincere appreciation to Gary Cimorelli, whose dedication and efforts were instrumental in obtaining the memorial bench and plaque. Special thanks also go to Susan Bott's committee—Darlene Wood and Debbie Goetz—whose thoughtful planning made the dedication ceremony such a meaningful and memorable event.

As members gathered around the new bench, surrounded by friends and family, it was evident that Ava's legacy extends far beyond the tennis court. Her spirit of friendship, community, and enthusiasm for life will continue to inspire all who have the privilege of being part of the Albany Tennis Club.

Forever in our hearts, Ava.

Click below to view photos from the event.

Six members of the ATC men's group traveled to Albany Country Club for a friendly interclub match that combined competitive tennis with outstanding hospitality and beautiful surroundings.

The day began with a memorable walk down to the tennis courts, where players were treated to stunning views of the Albany skyline. It was the perfect backdrop for a morning of tennis.

Albany Country Club Tennis Professional, Bill D., proved to be an exceptional host, warmly welcoming both teams before getting everyone settled onto the club's Har-Tru courts. His hospitality set the tone for a fun and competitive day.

The matches featured spirited play across all three courts, with plenty of long rallies, well-earned winners, and closely contested points. Adding to the atmosphere, classic Tom Petty songs drifted across the courts as players battled for every game, creating a relaxed but competitive setting that everyone enjoyed.

Representing ATC were Peter R., David G., Pete N., Don Y., Igor L., and Joe B., all of whom showcased great sportsmanship and represented the club with pride.

ATC extends its thanks to Bill and everyone at Albany Country Club for their warm hospitality. We look forward continuing this enjoyable interclub tradition.

Great doubles is about more than powerful serves and perfect volleys—it's about trust, communication, and knowing your partner has your back. As you browse through our doubles teams, notice how each photo brings one player into vivid color while the rest fades to black and white. It's a reminder that every point has its moment, every player has their chance to shine, and every victory is built by two people playing as one.

Today the spotlight is on one player. Tomorrow, it could be their partner. That's the beauty of doubles. Click on the image below to view the slide show.

As the sun rises each weekday morning, so do the members of the Morning Glories. From 7:00 to 8:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, the courts come alive with friendly competition, laughter, and plenty of great tennis.

What makes the Morning Glories special is the mix of people it brings together. Recent retirees share the courts with working professionals, graduate students, and other early risers who all appreciate starting the day with exercise, camaraderie, and a few well-struck tennis balls. Whether it's singles or doubles, there's always a good match—and good company—to be found.

Players sign up on a week-to-week basis, making it easy to join whenever your schedule allows.

Many thanks to Farz for coordinating the group and keeping everything running smoothly. If you'd like to be added to the Morning Glories email list, simply email f.shargh@gmail.com.

We also want to recognize Cathy Herman, who led the program for many years and helped create the welcoming tradition that continues today. Thank you, Cathy, for laying the foundation for a program that has become a favorite part of so many members' mornings.

The only thing hotter than the forecast was the action on the courts this morning! By 7:00 a.m. the courts were already cooking, but that didn't stop our members from enjoying another great morning of tennis before the day's highest temperatures rolled in. 

Check out a few photos from this morning's action, and from everyone at the club, have a safe, happy, and fun Fourth of July!

Saturday, July 4th
Fun 'n Games with Larry
8:00 - 8:30am
FREE for Members

Morning Mix with Larry
8:30 - 9:45am
Low-Key Doubles
FREE for members

Sunday, July 5th
Community Tennis Program (CTP)
11:00a.m. - 1:00pm
FREE for members

Sign up by emailing Larry@albanytennis.com

On May 23, ATC honored long-time member (50 years!) John Salamida for his generous contribution that funded the club’s new irrigation system. Dozens of members attended the ceremony. Plaques honoring his grandparents are on the new water fountain, and another plaque on a new bench honors his mother.

But John wasn’t finished. At the ceremony honoring him, he surprised everyone by giving ATC another check for $27,000! The funds will be used for additional club improvements and operating expenses. You will notice two new benches on court three with plaques honoring John’s brothers, Joseph “Joey” and Peter “Pete.”

John, we are ever grateful for your generosity to ATC.

From Club Manager Larry Yakubowski on John Salamida

John has been "donating" to the ATC for many years. Anyone who has played at ATC regularly knows that the winds howling from the west across the "Ridge-fields" can make a challenging game even more difficult. John Salamida, ever the problem-solver, installed hundreds of green slats in the fencing. These slats not only make the playing environment more beautiful (the green and red are festive, yes?) but also tame the fierce winds, allowing us to enjoy our game. John installed these slats himself.

And for those who remember the USTA Tri-County Open, for years, every Labor Day weekend, more than 200 players from New York, Connecticut, and Northern New Jersey battled on the red clay courts at ATC. While I was the Tournament Director responsible for player recruitment, public draw creation, match schedules, rules enforcement, umpiring, and awards ceremonies, the person who kept the tournament civilized, calm, and running like a well-oiled machine was . . . John Salamida!

John did this without asking. Many tennis tournament competitors lose their "marbles" when challenged, but when John was around, everyone behaved. The Italian Stallion was "in the house"! Play hard and behave . . . or leave town.

Thank you, John Salamida, for making the Albany Tennis Club a better place for all!

Too much water on the courts. Not enough water. Topping that blows away must be replaced. Chunks of the court gouged out like divots and in need of repair. Should we add calcium chloride to help retain moisture?

Keeping clay courts in top condition is both a science and an art. Our man behind the scenes is Steve Beditz, along with the court crew of Harry Lentz and Chris Mercagliano.

We caught up with Steve recently to film a little behind-the-scenes action. Steve said he’s been a member of ATC since around 1995 and has had a long career in higher education administration, mostly in human resources and labor relations, culminating in a role as VP for Administration and Finance at UAlbany.

Steve served on the ATC board of directors for ten years, starting when Merrilee Trudeau was president, through Scott Halle.

“I left the board about the time I retired,” he said, “reasoning I could make a bigger contribution as a jack of all trades rather than making policy decisions.”

He said that no one at ATC has gone to clay court maintenance school, and that he’s learned on the job.

“My main contributions are before and after the season: getting the courts open in the spring, put to bed in the fall, and managing special projects like irrigation improvements. The logistics are far more complicated than most members realize. During the season, I mostly react to unplanned events, such as coordinating the repair of a broken water line, dealing with a court roller that won't start, and figuring out solutions to other issues that come up with the courts.”

Steve volunteers a lot of his time to ATC. “The club has meant so much to me over the years, and I have the time and knowledge to do it. It's a precious resource that requires a lot of TLC.”

Of course, Steve gets his playing time in, too. His best, go-to shot during a match? “My forehand when it feels like cooperating.”

Please WATCH the video of Steve explaining what it takes to keep our courts in great shape.

A wonderful glimpse into the past! This photo, shared by long time member, Dr. Mike Bertram, shows the Albany Tennis Club in 1973. Moments like these remind us of the rich history, friendships, and love of tennis that have been part of our club for generations. Thank you for helping preserve and share these memories.

When your tennis shoes have played their final match, don't toss them in the trash. Help reduce waste by placing worn-out sneakers in our recycling collection bin. Your old shoes can be transformed into new products and kept out of landfills. Every pair makes a difference—thank you for helping our club serve up a more sustainable future!

The bin for sneaker recycling is in the back shed. Please ask the court attendant to help you.