Paddle has a Gray Day

Januray 23, 2013

Not every gray day is a good one for playing paddle.  A recent one was a day we lost a life long ambassador for this winter game we love.  Bobby Kauffman 87, passed away at her home on January 11th with family by her side.  A descendant of founding families of Greenwich and a member of DAR, she was a competitive figure in the national paddle scene in her prime.  She was a member of the Field Club of Greenwich and the Stanwich Club and enjoyed over 50 winters of platform tennis with family and friends.   Twice a runner-up in the late 60’s at the APTA women’s national championship, she partnered often with the best in the game, Gloria Dillenbeck and Peggy Stanton.  With Stanton she won the 1977 Women’s 50+ national championship after two finalist appearances in ’75 & ‘76.  Bobby also was a fine squash player and competed internationally in the early 50’s and was twice runner-up in the US Squash Doubles Championship. 

In the 1970’s with her husband Garth, she designed and built their lake front dream home in Salisbury, CT. where many years of fond family memories prompted her frequent comment, “Life has been very good”.  Survived by her husband Garth and a large loving family, among them daughter Tracy Kauffman Agro, who was instrumental for many years in the 1990’s chairing the Greenwich Invitational held at the Field Club.  

The pictures below find Bobby surrounded by Hall of Famers Gloria Dillenbeck, Peggy Stanton and Charlotte Lee in the 1969 APTA women’s championship final. 

In winning the 1977 women’s senior championship with Stanton, she enjoys Champaign with life long friend Wendy Chase.  There were certainly many bright sunny days in Bobby’s long life.  Farewell and heart felt condolences to her family from the platform tennis community.