Forehands and backhands, fun and fractures, forever memories at Seton Park

To the editor,

In the hours after my father, Samuel Weinbaum, passed away Sunday, June 7 at the age of 97, I reflected on many wonderful memories. Near the top of the list of those from his 70s and 80s were our weekend doubles games at Seton Park. A Manhattanite, he’d drive up the West Side or get a ride with a friend, find parking and trudge to the tennis courts. Then he’d swap his cane for a racket and we’d have two hours of fun, win or lose, with friends and family members our ages — and some significantly younger. 

My dad instilled in me a work ethic that meant all-out effort on the job, in sports or any pursuit. He’d invoke an old line to characterize those who didn’t try their best as “too light for heavy work and too heavy for light work.” His approach was to shake off any obstacle or injury.

On one memorable occasion, he fell and hurt his knee, but continued playing. A few hours after our game, my mother called from an emergency room and said he had a fractured kneecap. It would have taken much more than such a break to break his spirit or will. He played, and practiced law, until age 90 and he reveled in the camaraderie and competition we had at Seton. 

I’ll always be grateful for the everlasting blessing of his life and for those memories at Seton.

WILLIAM WEINBAUM