Kathleen Abbott

Kathy Abbott showed impeccable timing again by avoiding the inevitable disappointment of Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon. A long-suffering fan of American men at “The Championships,” she passed away on June 28 with the hope of an American men's Wimbledon champion still alive. Her last international trip with her husband, Don, was to The All England Club in London for “The Championships” - a bucket list item and an unforgettable experience. Kathy loved adventures with Don, and they had many. From husband/wife mixed doubles tournaments that had them traveling coast-to-coast, to watching their favorite professionals play in person at the US Open, BNP, and Australian Open, tennis was a lifelong love.

While participating in her own athletic endeavors was a passion of Kathy’s, watching her children (Kim and Chrissie) and her grandchildren (Miles, Jay, and Abbie) play sports was her favorite activity. Filled with ideas on form and strategy, Kathy showed up to everything, even closed practices, where she could be found hiding behind bleachers or bushes to watch. During Chrissie’s four years playing soccer at West Virginia University, Kathy missed only two games. Her fandom of her kids’ and grandkids’ sports endeavors was legendary.

Kathy’s passions extended far beyond sports. She knew who had the best fries (The Highlands), cheese crisp (El Charro), happy hour (BoneFish), and frozen margarita (Guadalajara) and she would tell you why they were the best EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

She was a lifelong learner and teacher. From her childhood in Akron to her time at Kent State and teaching in Cleveland Public Schools, she never stopped embracing new knowledge or new technology. She kept her love of language alive throughout her life, always taking delight in helping her children and grandchildren perfect their grammar.

Kathy packed a lot of fun, a lot of love, and more cheese than imaginable into her 78 years. Her family deeply wishes there were more years with her, but the ones spent together were filled with wonderful memories and stories to share.

In place of a memorial, Don, Kim, Chrissie, Tara, and Scott will host two happy hours in her honor for stories and toasts. Details on the Cleveland and Tucson happy hours will be forthcoming. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the USTA Foundation: https://www.ustafoundation.com/en/home.html