More than 300 men and women tennis players including more than a dozen from Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington and East Williston demonstrated solid tennis skills - - as well as a strong commitment to an important charitable cause - - when they participated in the 7th Annual North Shore Sweethearts Tennis Tournament at the Shelter Rock Tennis Club in Manhasset, from July 25-August 1.
According to Shelley Kaplan, the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) Foundation's associate development director for the Northeast region, more than $100,000 was raised during the week for DRI, bringing the seven-year total to nearly $1 million.
The tennis included doubles competitions in 12 divisions, including a Pro/Am; Ladies A, B and C; Men's Open, A, B and C; and Mixed Open, A, B and C. Stella Spanakos of Manhasset and her partners captured two titles - - the Ladies A Doubles and the Mixed B Doubles. Here is a complete list of Winning and Finalist players from Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington and E. Williston:
Pro/Am Winner: Spencer Ain (Roslyn) and Pro John Pastel
Pro/Am Finalist: Judsin Ain (Roslyn) and Pro Geoff Grant
Ladies A Winner: Stella Spanakos (Manhasset) and Tina Stellato (East Williston)
Ladies A Finalist: Michelle Kreitman (Manhasset)
Ladies C Finalist: Alyce Tuck (Roslyn Estates) and Stephanie Latto
Men's Open Finalist: Ricky Sandler (Sands Point)
Men's A Winner: Jay Umans (Manhasset Hills)
Men's A Finalist: Mitch Maiman (Manhasset) and Isadore Horowitz (Roslyn)
Men's B Winner: Michael Chatterton (Manhasset)
Men's C Winner: Sheldon Danuff (Roslyn Heights) and Stanley Rabinowitz (Manhasset)
Men's C Finalist: Steve Kuppersmith (Roslyn)
Mixed A Winner: Mr. and Mrs. Rob and Cara Londin (Roslyn)
Mixed B Winner: Stella Spanakos (Manhasset)
Mixed C Finalist: Jerry Silverman (Roslyn) and his daughter-in-law Tracy Silverman (Roslyn).
Bart Kaplan and Fred Blumenfeld, the chairmen and founders of the North Shore Sweethearts Tennis Tournament, agreed that the most gratifying part of the event was when David Fischbach of Great Neck, a diabetic, won the Men's Open.
Remarkably, Fischbach had to stop playing at intervals during the tournament to administer shots of insulin to him, but, despite this inconvenience, he persisted and was an integral part of the team of Keith Kambourian of Woodbury and himself winning the tournament's top Men's Team prize.
"Hosting the DRI's North Shore Sweethearts Tournament has been a tremendous undertaking - - but also a huge privilege - - for the membership of our Club," stated Michael Sobotka, president of Shelter Rock Tennis and Country Club.
"It is important for Shelter Rock, which has been a prominent part of the North Shore of Long Island community for over 40 years, to be an involved and an active 'business citizen.' And we certainly recognize the importance of the work that the DRI is doing."