Jeff Frank
Jeff Frank, the longtime tennis coach at Davidson College, passed away May 30, 2009, in Mooresville, after a brief illness. He was 64.
He was the all-time winningest coach in Davidson sports history, with a 536-309-1 record in 33 years.
A memorial service is planned at the college June 16. Details below.
A 1962 graduate of St. Petersburg High School, Jeff went on to do his undergraduate work at Davidson College, graduating in 1966. While at Davidson, he played on the tennis team under Coach Harry Fogelman.
After receiving his law degree at the University of Florida, Jeff returned to Davidson College as the head tennis coach and became the winningest coach of any sport in the college’s history.
Jim Murphy, Davidson College athletic director, called Mr. Frank an icon. “Coach Frank was the face of Davidson Tennis for 34 years and touched the lives of hundreds of students. Throughout his career, Jeff helped mold the Davidson athletics culture we’re so proud of today and he will be sorely missed,” Mr. Murphy said in an article on the college’s sports website, DavidsonWildcats.com.
He was the founder of the Wildcat Tennis Camp, which is still in operation, and is a member of the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.
Mr. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Jeanne Frank. He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Ray and Ellisa Whitson, two nephews, Travis and Jeff Whitson, and his niece, Ashlyn Whitson.
The family wishes to acknowledge with heartfelt gratitude the special love and care from Caroline Price, Davidson women’s tennis coach, and Sue and Robert Baggett. His passing was made easier by their unwavering support.
“We’re all rejoicing that we’ve had a friend like him for 40 years,” Sue Baggett said Monday.
A memorial service will be held at Davidson College June 16. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jeff Frank’s name to the Davidson Athletic Foundation will be used to continue his tennis legacy. Click on the link or send checks to Davidson Athletic Foundation, Box 7172, Davidson, NC 28035-7172.
RELATED LINKS
Feb. 24, 2006, Davidson.edu news archives, article on his retirement, “Frank reaches end of a long, distinguished road as men’s tennis coach.”
June 1, 2009, DavidsonWildcats.com article on Mr. Frank’s passing.
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Memorial service June 16
Davidson College circulated the following notice about a memorial service for Jeff Frank.
_____________________________________________
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 1:59 PM
Subject: Update
The memorial service for Jeff Frank, class of ’66, will be held June 16, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jeff Frank’s name to the Davidson Athletic Foundation will be used to continue his tennis legacy.
Checks may be sent to the Davidson Athletic Foundation, Box 7172, Davidson, NC 28035-7172.
My comment is a heartfelt, “May you rest in peace forever, Jeff. May you maintain that “childlike perspective” which Einstein referred to when asked how one attempts to solve the ultimate questions, thus far, such as the relationship of energy to matter. … in other words, stay in the present moment with a sense of spontaneity and freshness.”
That now, is the memory of my then 12-year-old, naive, experience of Jeff Frank. I was a young camper at Camp Carolina in Brevard and I saw Jeff as whatever a happy, successful grownup should be. At that time I didn’t and couldn’t have grasped that the 10-year-difference in our ages was not much in terms of time, in the long run.
While I wasn’t in his cabin or his larger group known as a “tribe,” I learned tennis under his guidance and at 54 years old now, I am playing the best and smartest and most rewarding game of my life. I am grateful to Jeff for that and when I came across the article about his having passed away, I was stunned and thrown back to an important time in my life which helped make me the person i am today.
I thank the universe – my word for god (whatever god is) – for letting Jeff be a formative part of my life and also that of many others who he influenced in a positive way. Thanks Jeff.
Ron Morrisette
Sarasota, Fla.