Marjorie Aitchison received the Distinguished Service Award from the Newtown Tennis Association at its recent annual meeting.

She was recognized for her contributions to the game and to the association over most of the last decade. Also named were Tennis Lady and Man of the Year and the Berlingo Challenge Cup winners. New officers for the coming two years were also elected.

President Bill Meier presented awards.

Mrs. Aitchison has recently served as treasurer of the NTA, but she has been the steady behind-the-scenes person working closely and just as hard as her husband, Alex, ever since they came to Newtown in March of 1992.

She began playing tennis at 12 on the public courts in her native Melbourne, Australia. She took Saturday morning clinics at the local park and played in high school, but claims she was terrible until she was 25 or so when she began to play more and improve.

It was a fluke that brought Marjorie Houston and Alex Aitchison, a serious tennis competitor, together. They disliked each other. Alex was a friend of her brother and current beau. But, when Alex’s mixed doubles partner, who was a flight attendant, was grounded in fog in Brisbane, he bit the bullet and called Marj.

Alex needed a good, available partner who was eligible by the rules of Lawn Tennis of Victoria to play in the scheduled tournament. Alex believes “winning was everything in those days” and he was sure they would lose. Marj said they would win, so they wagered. Whoever won would take the other out for a night. Marj won and, as it turns out, so did Alex. They were engaged for two years and married in 1959.

Alex became general manager of the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria in Melbourne running tournaments, including the Australian Open at the famous Kooyoung Stadium. It was an all-consuming, but exciting job that was made possible because of the devotion and support of Marj. who was home raising their three boys.

The Aitchisons left Australia in 1972 and came to America, where Alex had been recruited to run the Port Washington Academy, a position he held until they came to Newtown.

Marj has quietly answered phone calls, done mailings, kept the financial records, been present all day at local tournaments, parties and events of the NTA – always lending a hand wherever needed. She has truly served as Newtown’s First Lady of Tennis.

Teresa Kennedy was a two-time winner, being named Tennis Woman of the Year and being the Berlingo winner in women’s doubles and with her partner, Michelle Vanasse.

Mrs. Kennedy only began playing tennis three years ago September, but was a quick learner. She started with lessons from Sue Gardner and Mr. Aitchison and now plays three to five times a week at Middlebury and Beaver Brook. She has three children (11, 10, and 8 years old) who also play. She also ran the Junior Tournament for two years and has assisted at NTA parties and other events.

Elizabeth Lynch, who was 1999 Tennis Woman of the Year, placed second in the Berlingo women’s doubles with her partner, Dawn Nacewicz.

Berlingo women’s singles winners were Wendy Fong in the advanced division, and Sonya Haskel, placed second.. In the intermediate division winners were Susan Tibbetts, No. 1, and Renee Walter, No. 2.

Men winning in the Berlingo Cup were Tom Conrod, No. 1 and Ron Tietjen, No. 2 in the advanced division. Fred Steiner in the Intermediate Division; and Gene Bernard, No. 1, and Gil Fong, No. 2, in the Senior Division.

Paul Stauffer was named Tennis Man of the Year, having run the Newtown 2000 Open Tournament this year.

Mr. Steiner, who was born in the Carinthia province of Austria and attended the University of Vienna has played tennis since he was a boy and avidly since he came to Connecticut in 1978. He has three sons.

Mr. Bernard has been in Newtown for 25 years. Mr. Bernard was active in setting up and running the early junior program and establishing the first junior tournament and inter-town competition.

Elected to serve on the NTA Cabinet for the next two years are Hugh Lavery, President; Bob Gabor, Vice President; Susan Tibbetts, Treasurer; and Cathy Cantore, Secretary. They will take office in January.

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