Florida Tennis Coach, USTA Volunteer Mary Ann Frederick of Titusville Passes

USTA Florida is mourning the passing of Titusville’s Mary Ann Frederick, a passionate tennis volunteer who died July 5, 2017 at age 69.

“Mary Ann always had a smile on her face and was a joy to be around,” said USTA Florida Executive Director Doug Booth. “I am so sad to hear about her passing.”

An institution to the Space Coast tennis community through her numerous volunteer efforts, she was also a former teaching pro and coach for the Titusville girls’ tennis team.

“She was the the teaching pro at the Singleton courts for Brevard Parks and Recreation,” said fellow USTA Florida volunteer Marilyn Bollo of the 30-year Titusville resident. “She was also very active in the Space Coast tennis league and served in a variety of positions. She coached teams for the Junior Olympics and ran a successful Junior Team Tennis program in Titusville as well. She played a large part in the success of the Swinging For Kids Tournament to raise money for the schools tennis program in Brevard.”

In addition to her community efforts, Frederick was the USTA Florida Section district director from 2001-06, prior to the section operating by regions.

“She was also a USTA clinician for six years, an official, a league verifier, and operated in other roles as a volunteer at the section level,” said USTA Florida Volunteer Manager & Meetings Coordinator Lynne Salus.

Her passion for the game remained strong over the last few years as she took to the court with a tight-knit group of locals, and she passed that passion on to friends and acquaintances.

“It’s not just about the matches, but about the camaraderie too,” Frederick told the Florida Today newspaper in 2012 in an article profiling local seniors who played well into their 60s and 70s. “We have a lot who have buried husbands, but they all have their tennis friends to come back to.”

She is survived by her husband, Donald; her brother, Michael Fedish of Rock Tavern, N.Y.; her son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Michelle Frederick of Miami; and her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Jason Plaien of Jacksonville.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to make a donation to a charity of their choosing, and to “Please celebrate her life by having a toast or tennis match in her honor.”