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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

A Personal Note

Those of you I've spoken to in person the past year or so know my father has been seriously ill with cancer during that time. Those of you who come to this website daily know it is unusual for me to go one day without posting, let alone two or three. The connection may not be obvious, but my father died on Saturday, leaving my focus on funeral arrangements, family memories, many tears and much laughter as we celebrate the kind and generous man he was. My mother, the love of his life for more than 62 years, will need all the support her family and friends can provide as she copes with his loss. His obituary is available here.

As painful as these last few months have been, my father's death is not a tragedy, with 84 of his years healthy, happy and productive. Not everyone is so blessed, and I'm sad to report that two young tennis players have died in the past week: Paul Nahon and Conor Pollock. Nahon, who had just transferred from Richmond to Colorado College, died on August 15, while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. His obituary is here. I don't have any official confirmation about Pollock's death, which I'm told happened Sunday night. Please follow the texascollegetennis blog for more details.

24 comments:

Brent said...

Colette, very sorry to hear abour your loss. Will keep your family in my prayers during this difficult time.

Ken Easter said...

Colette,
I am so sorry for your loss. I wish the best for you and your family in your time of need.
Ken

getreal said...

Sorry for your loss of your father. Have known Conor throughout juniors. Great young man, great player with an outstanding record at Texas A&M, and marked for success with his first job. While this is touchy it needs to be mentioned. Conor paid a very very dear, highly publicized price because of a very stupid decision picking up a girl in a bar late at night who later accused him rape. After spending several months in jail the charges were dropped and all of us who knew Conor were not at all surprised, but of course that did not get the same play all over the internet. For anyone with a son it brought home the chance a young man’s takes bringing any strange girls back to his apartment or dorm room late at night because their mental state can be a wild car. Now just as he is getting his life back no track, it was cut short. Cleary Conor got the short end of the stick not once, but twice. This tragedy is enormous

Jerry said...

Colette,

I an very sorry for your loss.

Pat Harrison said...

Collette, very sorry to hear about your father..we are thinking of you...The Harrison's

Eric Amend said...

Colette,

So very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

Eric

Unknown said...

I am so grateful for getreal's post. It was perfect and true. Like Conor.

bruddahc said...

Colette, Sorry to hear of your father. My father passed a year ago.

Cyrus

Unknown said...

Sorry about your loss. Lost my mom 6 years ago and it is a life-altering experience, not to mention all the things you have to deal with when a family member passes away. Always enjoy your posts on college tennis and hope you can find the time to mourn and be with family.

Bobby B. said...

So very sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family.

Terry H said...

Collette,

Sorry to hear about your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God bless.

Terry

Georgia Dad said...

Colette,

We have you in our thoughts and prayers.

Winston, Red and Samantha

Steve said...

SC Tennis said:
Colette,
Very sorry to hear about your loss, for sure my thoughts are with you and your family.

Very sorry as well to hear about the other two losses in this small tennis world.
Steve

Nancy J Pura said...

My thoughts are with you and your family. Nancy J. Pura and family

A dedicated reader said...

Our thoughts and prayers are with you..

Austin said...

Sorry for you Colette.

I read Pollock got into a car accident, but Google didn't turn up any such news stories, so wasn't sure if it was confirmed or not.

On a tennis note, CBS Sports Net has live coverage of the US Open qualifying.

Watched Julia Cohen play last night against the #7 seed. They looked like juniors out there moonballing the entire match. One game took 18min and a ton of 30-40 ball rallies. It was odd to watch a match on that level seeing how soft they were hitting the ball.

Steve Smith said...

Colette,

Sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.

As always, you worded it well. Your Father had a full life in comparison to the two young players. I read about the accomplishments of the young man from Colorado through your post; his accomplishments were amazing. Conor Pollack was at our tennis school once. He also was so young and has so much life ahead of him, so much potential.

Again my condolences,
Steve Smith

Todd.Spiker said...

So sorry, Colette. Lost my father three years ago under similar circumstances. Try to continue to think good thoughts.

Aggie Fan said...

Can anyone explain why there appears to be not one news report or article mentioning Conor Pollock's passing?

The TexasCollegeTennisBlog never reported anything about this tragic development.

been-there said...

Colette, I am very sorry. My dad is in a poor situation also, roughly the same age as yours. I am very sorry.

I am also so sad about Conor Pollock. I could find no articles about his death, saw nothing on the texastennis blog, and no one seems to know. I have heard that despite his one very unfortunate issue, he was a great kid from a great family. Very scary to see what happens from one bad choice and if you warn your kids about it, they'll blow you off kindly but they will blow you off.

I will pray for everyone though.

Leslie Gibbs said...

Sorry for your loss Colette. I was thinking about how we have watched your blog grow and expand over the years. I'm sure your dad was super proud of the impact you have made becoming a go-to source for all things tennis.

Jewel said...

You do so much for us here in this blog that as a reader, we can forget the life you have outside of us. Thank you for reminding us of who you are and not just what you do for us as tennis fans. All my best for you and your family. Jewel

College Fan said...

Sorry for your loss Colette. It sounds like you had a terrific Dad. No doubt he was very proud of you. My father was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. While no situation is the same, I understand some of what you are going through. As everyone has mentioned, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

John said...

Collette - sorry for your loss and you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. John Turvy