“Tennis, Tennis, Tennis Everyone”
Ambassador of Tennis
Donald J. Van Blake
(August 9, 1921 - June 5, 2018)
Donald Van Blake was born on August 9, 1921. A life-long resident of Plainfield, New Jersey, he attended Plainfield High School and served in the all-black regiment of the United States Army's 10th US Cavalry with tours in Africa and Italy during World War II. He later attended Hampton University, class of 1952.
He maintained a love for the city of Plainfield, and came back to work as a metal shop teacher and coach of the Plainfield High School tennis team. He was known throughout the Plainfield community for his slogan “Tennis, Tennis, Tennis Everyone” which is inscribed on the monument in front of the Donald Van Blake Tennis Courts on Randolph Road in Plainfield New Jersey.
His big projects were in the schools, including gym classes and after school programs, and on playgrounds and in the parks. His primary focus was to get kids off the streets and onto the tennis courts. He was committed to getting more kids into the game of tennis. He was most proud to see the kids evolve through the program and make the varsity squads, but he never wanted to lose track of those who didn’t make it as far. He wanted every kid to be able to play the sport, not just for now, but for a lifetime.
Mr. Van Blake was instrumental in the creation of the Town Tennis Summer League for kids to keep them playing during summer months, competing against teams from the surrounding towns and recreational clubs. The league was free and he encourage parents participation to drive the kids to and from the matches. It was a great opportunity for our kids to meet all kinds of people from other surrounding communities and expose them to different cultures and learning opportunities and experiences .
In 1983 with help from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) he founded the Plainfield Tennis Council which organized community programs in every nook and cranny available in Plainfield. He was a founding member, and namesake, of the Donald Van Blake Tennis and Education Foundation and remained on the Board of Directors from its inception to his passing. His vision was to make tennis affordable and accessible to all, especially the kids.
He was honored with various awards and accolades from numerous organizations - including, but not limited to, "Distinguished Service Award," and "Sportsman of the Year Award" - for his efforts on behalf of grassroots tennis, along with a special commendation as an “Educator, Role Model and Positive Influence to Youth.” He was also named the 1991 Star Ledger and Courier News "Coach of the Year" and has been honored with USTA/Eastern’s Southern "Volunteer of the Year." In April of 2008 Donald Van Blake was inducted into the Junior Tennis Foundation’s Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame for his contributions to the tennis community.
Mr. Van Blake passed away on June 5, 2018 at the age of 96 years old.
