WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – She could have tried to fill smaller shoes or no shoes at all, but Sheri Slobin Shea isn’t the type to keep her passion to herself.
Shea, the daughter of late USTA New England Hall of Famer Gerald Slobin, is strengthening the tennis community of West Hartford and introducing the game to a new generation of players.
Shea, a teaching pro whose passion for community tennis and grassroots programs was fueled when she worked as Deputy Director of the New York Junior Tennis league under Skip Hartman, has formed a community tennis association that will run programming out of the six courts at picturesque Fernridge Park.
"My dad was a real visionary in terms of tennis," said Shea, who grew up playing tennis at Fernridge. "He built the first indoor tennis club in Connecticut and ran tennis camps for both adults and children. He set a great example for me as a teacher and as someone who wants to promote the game. I want to pass that along to others and make my mark in my town."
Shea, head tennis professional at Tumble Brook Country Club in Bloomfield, CT, is off to a tremendous start in building a tennis community and has set solid foundations for youth and adult programming.
This fall, Shea, with the help of the West Hartford Parks and Recreation Department, ran a six-week tennis program at Fernridge. Programs, including beginner lessons, were offered for children and adults and more than 180 people jumped at the opportunity to play.
"The town has been excellent," Shea said. "I was able to promote the programs through the parks and recreation department and they have been a tremendous asset and recognize that the need is there."
Shea also has a desire to increase tennis participation within the schools and has taken selfless steps to make that happen.
Last year, Shea volunteered her time to teach a week’s worth of tennis with physical education teacher Mario Lopez at Bugbee Elementary School. The school purchased QuickStart Tennis equipment and the trial was successful enough that it will happen again this year and expand to other schools in the area.
The majority of the district’s physical education teachers were trained by USTA New England Community relations Manager Nikita Zaharov.