by Barbara Saltzman/Contributing Writer
Daniel Rodriguez and Heidi Grimm, both of Redondo Beach, slammed their way to first place in A Division Mixed Doubles in The Jester & Pharley Phund’s Second Annual Benefit Doubles Tennis Tournament.
The tournament, held June 21 and 22 at Alta Vista Park in Redondo, raised funds to provide copies of David Saltzman’s award-winning children’s book “The Jester Has Lost His Jingle” and Jester & Pharley Dolls to young cancer patients at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance.
The win was a repeat for Rodriguez who took first in the Mixed Doubles competition last year. This year, Rodriguez also took second in A Division Men’s Doubles with Dean Seislove of Redondo Beach.
First place in A Division Men’s Doubles went to Robert Cook and Bobby Virasingh, whose wife Katy Virasingh took second place in B Division Women’s Doubles with Lisa Avila.
Top winners in A Division Women’s Doubles were Jenni Hibbard and Vicki Thorrens, with Janice Bittker and Tomiko Yamashita, taking second.
Mixed Doubles B Division winners were Alexandria Mar, who played with her dad Winston Mar. Second place went to the husband and wife team of Todd Maeda and Nancy Maeda.
Men’s B Division Doubles champs were Kevin Carter and Steve Hulbert, with Steve Anderson and Larry Shapiro taking second.
In Women’s B Division, Aki Takeda and Yoshiko Suzuki hit their way into first place.
In C Division, Mixed Doubles first-place honors went to Tom Cox and Robin Panitch, with Geoff Rawling and Feifei Wang taking second. Men’s C Division Doubles champs were Vince Comon and Tony Chuan, with Larry Styza and Dan O’Brien taking second.
Refreshments were provided to players by Subway of Redondo Beach, Trader Joe’s of Riviera Village, Starbucks of Riviera Village and Cake Bakeshop of Manhattan Beach.
Donations from a silent auction and raffle were highlights of the weekend event, with exciting items donated by About Faces, Acupuncture & Herbal Holistic Care, Apothecary, Artist Tree, Vanessa Andrade’s ArtLife Gallery, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Catalina View Wines, Chez Melange, Dr. Fitness, Ella Boutique, Lee’s Tires, Lisa’s Bon Appetit, Mama Terano, RPV Flowers, The Original Red Onion, Remedy Pharm, Riviera Mexican Grill, Rosehill Manor Candles, Salon Lucid, Spectrum Athletic Clubs, Sue Wiedenmann Photography, Sweet Sugar Bath, Tapas & Vino, Terranea Oceanfront Resort, UPS of Rolling Hills Estates, the Wellness Boutique and Woelfel Superior Healthcare, which also provided shoulder massages for players.
Additional products were donated by Bristol Farms of Manhattan Beach, Cookin’ Stuff, Fringe, Gaetano’s Restaurant, Hennessey’s, Jeffrey Scott, Lilly Nail Spa, Lollipop, Nail Boutique, Penguin’s, Redondo Beach Brewing Co., Trader Joe’s of Golden Cove and Turquoise Restaurant.
“This exciting event will grow even more next year,” said event chair and creator Heidi Grimm, who will present Jester books and dolls to Harbor-UCLA later this month from the tournament’s proceeds.
The South Bay-based Jester & Pharley Phund takes its inspiration from “The Jester” book written by David Saltzman as his senior project at Yale University before his death from cancer in 1990. David was a graduate of Chadwick School in Palos Verdes. For additional information, visit thejester.org or call 310-544-4733.
