Out of the window at Drumlins Tennis Center, Syracuse logos are plastered on the curtains of the courts, and posters of the SU women’s tennis team line the far wall about 100 yards away.

But on the far side of the first court, the words “Rosemary DeHoog Court” are inscribed in white capital letters. For spectators that look out the window, the memories flow back.

In February, her name was officially ingrained in the tennis center’s history. A tennis player, coach and community member, DeHoog has been an integral part of the Syracuse tennis community for more than 41 years, including as she battled breast cancer.

DeHoog died on Oct. 25 due to complications caused by breast cancer. She was 79.

“It meant a lot to her emotionally because she worked on this court for over 40 years,” said her son, Victor DeHoog. “The fact that she got recognition for her hard work helps to culminate a career when you can see that people appreciate how much you’ve done for them.”

A tennis legend in the community, she started working at Wolf Hollow Racquet Club, now Drumlins, as a staff professional in 1970 and was promoted to head tennis professional two years later in 1972. As part of her responsibilities, she taught physical education classes as an adjunct professor at SU. She held that position until 2004. Back then, there were only four courts at Drumlins, Club Director Marion Nies said.

Then, in 2008, DeHoog took a head coaching job with the Le Moyne women’s tennis team. She led the team to the conference championships in two of three seasons at the helm. She continued to work in tennis until February of this year at 78 years old.

“No matter where she went or what she was wearing, everybody knew who she was,” Victor said. “You could go to California, and somebody would say, ‘Oh there’s Rosemary.’”

Thirty years ago, her son said, people recognized her in public only if she was wearing a tennis outfit. That changed quickly. Her son, who also works at Drumlins as a certified tennis professional, referred to her as a “local star” because of her work in the community.

When DeHoog began her tennis career, it was in an era when female representation was limited.

“During the summertime in the ‘70s or ‘80s (at Harry Hopman Tennis Academy in Florida), they would have about 50 courts going, and there was not a single woman giving instruction,” said Steve Pekich, district president of western New York for the United States Tennis Association. “There was resistance to letting women teach and be officers. It was her perseverance, and the fact that she was so professional and assertive, and that she was playing alongside Billie Jean King.”

After she graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1960, she asserted herself in a men-dominated sport.

In 1993, she became president of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association Eastern Division, the east coast branch of a national organization that certifies tennis trainers and coaches, and managed the local chapter of the National Organization of Women. From 1987 to 1989, she served as the president of Orange Plus, an organization supporting women’s athletics at SU.

The USPTA awarded DeHoog with the Tex Schwab Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 and later inducted her into the USPTA Eastern Hall of Fame. In 2007, she was the first woman named a master professional, the highest title given by the USPTA. This ranked her among the top five percent of tennis teaching professionals.

The consistent message from past students of DeHoog’s was that there was no easy session. Yet people came back for more and more.

“When I was done with a lesson (with Rosemary), I was so exhausted,” said Nancy Benson of Dewitt, New York. “You did not stay still for a minute. You were busy learning, running around, learning net shots and serving.”

DeHoog worked closely with one of her favorite players, Billie Jean King, who was ranked No. 1 in the world for five years. Because of King’s fame, she was able to help drive DeHoog’s women in tennis initiatives forward, Victor said.

On Saturday evening, more than 100 people attended a celebration of her life at Drumlins, including former students, family, friends, colleagues and community members.

One of her most prized possessions, her Mazda Miata, which she enjoyed riding with the top down, was parked out front of the facility. She loved cross-country road trips in that car with her family, they said. She made long trips with her then-90-year-old mother, Edythe Luther, and also made three trips with her grandson, Joshua DeHoog, now a part-time employee at Drumlins. She was the founding member and vice president of the Midstate Miata Club of New York. DeHoog drove her Miata to both of Benson’s sons’ weddings, who she taught for years after she taught Benson.

The celebration on Saturday spread from the waiting area at Drumlins onto Rosemary DeHoog Court, where her accolades are permanently showcased on one end of the court. Benches were set up with photos, and a table was set up for attendees to write some of their favorite memories on tennis ball-themed paper and tie it to the net on her court.

A printout of her favorite phrases to use on the court — known commonly as “Rosemaryisms” — was framed on a table. Some of the phrases include: “make your move,” “watch the ball off the strings,” and “don’t back away – step up.”

While the Muskegon, Michigan native didn’t grow up in central New York, the community made it seem as if they had known her forever.

DeHoog is survived by her daughter Stephanie Gale of Port Townsend, Washington and son Victor of Syracuse, as well as her four grandchildren Joshua, Olivia, Cecilia and Ismay. She is also survived by her sister Rosellen Brewer of Pacific Grove, California and her brother Lynn Luther of Swartz Creek, Michigan.

Published on November 4, 2018 at 10:14 pm