New England

New England Senior Tennis Foundation Appoints New Leadership

James Maimonis, Manager, Media & Communications | October 16, 2020

WESTBOROUGH, MA – The New England Senior Tennis Foundation (NESTF) is about to look a little bit different. After 12 years of serving as president of the foundation, Peter Allen has relinquished his duties and has handed the reigns over to former board treasurer and fellow USTA New England Hall of Famer, Wade Frame.

 

Frame, a Marblehead, MA resident, was officially elected and sworn in at the Foundation’s October 5th board meeting.  

 

“At age 75, I’ve decided to resign the NESTF presidency in my 12th year. I feel our organization that serves players ages 50 and beyond, should now have an energetic new leader with innovative ideas, although I hope to remain a committed board member for many years to come,” Allen said. “I nominated Wade five years ago for the New England Hall of Fame because he was a great representation for senior tennis, and I feel the same way now with him taking over as president of the NESTF.”

 

Frame has been a board member for nine years and served as treasurer for the past seven.

 

“Pete has done a phenomenal job as president. He runs meetings well, he’s well respected, and I hope I can do half the job he’s done,” Frame said.

 

NESTF’s most notable achievement under Allen’s presidency was the creation of the Senior Slams. Prior to 2010, the majority of the foundation’s funding was set aside for news bulletins, but longtime board members Ken and Dorcas Miller thought that by mimicking the National Senior Slam events in New England, interest would increase, and it did.

New England now holds grass, clay and hardcourt slams for men’s and women’s singles and doubles divisions from ages 50 to 85+, and to many, they are the highlights of the senior tennis season.  

 

During his tenure as president, Frame hopes to build on the success of the Senior Slams and create even more unique opportunities for senior players.

 

“I hope to encourage seniors to continue playing tennis. We’re already thinking of new ideas and ways to get seniors involved, because it’s great socially and for your health and it’s a fun community all around. I was lucky enough to be asked to join, and I’m happy to do my part to promote the sport,” Frame said.

 

Beginning in January 2021, for the first time in two and a half years, the NESTF will once again operate on a full budget. Since the foundation’s inception in 1996, late founders Irving Levine and his wife, Bernice, have been the primary benefactors.

 

Irving passed away in May of 2018, and Bernice a year later, and before he died, he set aside a portion of his estate to continue to posthumously fund senior tennis in New England. But due to lengthy legal proceedings, the approval of the distribution of funds hadn’t been finalized until just recently and will be administered beginning in the 2021 year.

 

USTA New England gave the NESTF multiple grants to support them while they waited for Levine’s funding to come in.

 

Prior to his passing, Levine also requested Allen remain president until his annual legacy distributions began. The NESTF will receive $20,000 annually for the next 20 years in his name.

 

“I think Irving would be very happy now with what he started up years ago. He started it, seeded it, and hopefully we can do what he would’ve wanted the board to do, which is promote tennis in New England and improve outreach and hopefully get more seniors involved in the game,” Frame said.

 

In addition to Frame taking over as president, the NESTF also elected four new members to its board. Heather Anastos will be taking over Frame’s treasurer duties, and she’ll be joined on the board by Chris Holmes, Davida Dinerman and John Wilcox.

 

Docas and Ken Miller plan to step down from both the board and from their Senior Slam duties at the end of 2021. Current board member, Judy Van Raalte, also took over for Dorcas Miller as the foundation’s clerk.  

 

To learn more about the New England Senior Tennis Foundation or to get involved, visit neseniortennis.org.

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