Remembering tennis legend Nick Bollettieri
By Scoop Malinowski
Special to The Islander
There was never a figure in tennis so inspiring, energizing and uniquely recognizable as Nick Bollettieri — and there never will be.
He died Dec. 4, 2022, and his life was celebrated March 18 at a packed IMG Academy gym in Bradenton by about 800 people associated with him in one way or another.
Nick Bollettieri lived for many years on Longboat Key and in Bradenton.
The tennis coach, academy founder, inspirational motivator and friend of countless numbers of people died at age 91 during the Eddie Herr International, a junior tennis event at the academy he envisioned and created more than five decades ago.
The invitation-only tribute included Grand Slam champions, former players and students, fans, some media and various friends, family and admirers.
In a video tribute by Monica Seles, she said, “Not only is he probably the greatest coach in the world but he’s the best motivator I’ve ever met.”
Wife Cindy Bollettieri revealed that when they married about 20 years ago, her husband was older than her parents, in a mountain of debt and she knew nothing about tennis. But it worked. She said she misses some little things about her husband, such as how he could eat 12 ears of corn in one sitting.
Jimmy Arias, now IMG director of tennis, called Bollettieri the “godfather of tennis” and “though the academy is now called IMG, it’s really Nick’s place.”
With that comment, Red Ayme, seated in the eighth row, wearing a blue IMG shirt and sunglasses, raised both hands and applauded the statement. Many others joined him.
Ayme first united with Nick Bollettieri 38 years ago, starting as a bus driver. He later was a traveling coach for Tommy Haas and Marcelo Rios, among others, and today he’s still a coach at IMG. Was he wearing sunglasses inside the gym to hide tears?
I noticed several people with teary eyes. It’s awe-inspiring to think of the impact Nick had on so many lives.
Nick Bollettieri’s students came from all over. David Wheaton gave the invocation and benediction. Carling Bassett Seguso sat in row three behind Kathy Horvath. Mary Pierce a couple of seats away. Ann Grossman was there, too. Max Mirnyi also attended, saying if Nick Bollettieri didn’t let him train in Bradenton as a teen he wouldn’t have become a Grand Slam champion.
Ex-player Bobby Blair came from Las Vegas. Former NBTA employee Chip Hart flew in from Wisconsin. Lisa Kerkorian arrived from West Palm Beach and Anne White from Los Angeles. Mary Carillo sat in row eight. Former partner/coaches Julio Moros and Bunner Smith also attended.
Longtime Bollettieri assistant Steve Shulla was another outstanding highlight speaker.
Host Steve Shenbaum closed the celebration with a message to follow Nick Bollettieri’s example — to inspire those we encounter, try to recognize talent in everyone and let them know about it.
As I listened to all the speakers respect Nick Bollettieri and share memories, I thought of my own standout experiences with the coach — and there were so many. In 1992, my first year as a reporter doing Biofile interviews for the Morristown Daily Record in New Jersey, I managed to set up and do a phone interview with Nick Bollettieri and I still remember what a thrill it was to actually talk to the Wimbledon winning coach and for him to give me his time.
Back then I was irrelevant in tennis, but Nick Bollettieri still took the time to do an interview with a nobody. In the following years he was always accessible where ever I saw him and no matter what I asked him about — Safin, Rios, McEnroe, Djokovic — he would always give much better content than I had hoped. He even told me he loved my book, “Marcelo Rios: The Man We Barely Knew.”
Every time I saw Nick Bollettieri at a tennis tournament he always magnetized fans who wanted to talk or take a photo. And he engaged with them every single time. It’s possible nobody in tennis history touched as many lives in a positive manner as did Nick Bollettieri.
If the spirit of Nick Bollettieri managed to find the time to attend and observe the celebration of his life today, there is not an iota of doubt that his feeling of joy would have exceeded the 1992 Wimbledon final triumph of one of his best players — Andre Agassi.
Above all our heads in the gym on the scoreboard over the basketball court, hung a photo of Nick and a quote: “Believe in yourself and never doubt your ability to do it.”
His example and messages will live on.
Editor’s note: Malinowski wrote “Nick Bollettieri: Godfather of Modern Tennis,” available on Amazon.
Billy ‘Bill’ L. Rouse
Billy “Bill” L. Rouse,75, died at his March 21 at home in Holmes Beach.
He was born April 3, 1947, to Harry Rouse Jr. and Phyllis (Carlson) in Gary, Indiana.
Mr. Rouse enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, Indiana University basketball, and having a beer with friends.
A celebration of life will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the Anchor Inn, 3007 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach. In celebration, the family asked that you please go to your local bar, drink a beer for Bill and tip your bartender.
Mr. Rouse is survived by wife Margaret “Margie;” son Jake and wife Ashley; daughter Amy Rouse, M.D.; grandchildren Brady and Sophie; and his nieces and nephews.
Daryl Van Ostenbridge
Daryl Van Ostenbridge, 87, a Chicago native and longtime resident of Anna Maria Island and Manatee County, died peacefully March 16.
She was born April 26, 1935.
She was a devout Christian and longest member of Roser Memorial Community Church for 75 years, a beloved figure in the community who volunteered for many years at the community center on the island.
She also was a retired nurse, an avid reader, a huge baseball fan, loved crafting, quilting and traveling and had an incomparable sense of humor.
As the wife of John, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she always said her family was her proudest accomplishment.
A celebration of life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15, at Roser Church, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, with a reception to follow. Memorial donations may be made to Roser Church at P.O. Box 247, Anna Maria, FL 34216, or Tidewell Hospice.
Mrs. Van Ostenbridge is survived by her sons Butch and wife Edie and John and wife Joyce; daughter Vicki; grandchildren Kevin, Keith, Jamie, Dara, Anna and Abi; great-grandchildren ShaiLynn, Sydnee, Hailey, Liam, Riley, Harper, Sloan and Christian; brother Bob and wife Joyce and Paul and wife Jan; and sister Virginia and husband Mark.