101 Reasons to Celebrate

Few occasions are as special as a centennial celebration, but this year the Princeton Tennis Program honored an even rarer milestone: the 101st birthday of Frank Cuiule.

To celebrate the 11th Annual Tennis Tournament at Veterans Park, athletes and spectators gathered in honor of Cuiule, who first picked up a tennis racquet in 1939.

Born and raised in Trenton, N.J., Cuiule played on the boys’ tennis team at Trenton High School. After graduation, he was determined to serve his country, spending two years trying to enlist before finally joining the Navy as a signalman. He later volunteered for a critical mission aboard a merchant ship bound for Okinawa, earning him three medals and the title of Quartermaster.

After the war, Cuiule began a 50-year career with the U.S. Postal Service, where he became the longest-serving member of the Trenton Branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). The same year he started with the Postal Service, he married his wife, Connie. The couple has four children and recently celebrated 77 years of marriage. 

Now living in a retirement community, Frank’s reflexes and net game remain sharp. Surrounded by loved ones, he continues to inspire those around him with his energy.

This year’s tournament, featuring a total of around 70 players, was more than a day of matches. It was a tribute to Frank’s lifelong love of tennis and the powerful connections that keep him young at heart.

“Tennis has been such an important part of his life over the years,” said his son, Vince.

“It’s a critical part of how happy he is and how good his health is. Seeing him celebrated like this, surrounded by friends and family, reminds us all of what a loving community truly looks like.”