Ian Froman and the Tennis Center
Ian Froman
I first met Dan when he was 10 years old. He was one of dozens of children his age in the center of Ramat Hasharon, but it soon became clear that he was not "another one." He was revealed very quickly as a real prodigy. He was not only great on the field, but also off it. Always wanted to help. Children at this age have often complained. There was always about what: about the coach, about the balls, but not Dan. At this age he was certainly rare in this landscape.
It was not long before we realized that Dan was an asset in everything related to the groups of children we took out at the time for fundraising trips for the tennis centers abroad. He was not only a great tennis player, but a polite and eloquent child also in talking in front of adults.
There was not a kid at that time who did not want to be a part of these fundraising campaigns and that is not surprising. We made sure they would be very. Except for the shows, we took them to Disney, to swimming pools, to restaurants, and of course they were hosted in beautiful houses by Jews everywhere.
Because it was almost every child's dream at the time, and we really tried to diversify and try to bring out other kids each time, so that we would have as much of this experience as possible at least once. But we did not give up on Dan and he went on these journeys again and again. So special was he.
I can say that Dan raised a lot of money for the tennis centers. It was not because of me or because of Bill Lippie. Definately not. He made it happen. When Dan was around we did not have much work left.
His tennis career when he was growing up was good. He kept getting better and getting a scholarship to a college in the US where he had a lot of success. But what was most fun was seeing and hearing it was everything that had to do with his love for Sasha.
Dan he was all good and he deserved only good. His relinquishment even earlier on tennis in favor of combat service tells the whole story. He always knew what he wanted in life. He made decisions without hesitation. He had ideas and thoughts about life that were bigger than tennis. It did not surprise me.
I want to add that I am very happy about the decision to commemorate Dan and who he was.
There is an English saying that says:
"Nothing is forever. Everything in life has a beginning, a middle and an end - Except for the memories that are everlasting"
Dan must be remembered. And this is a great way you have chosen to do it.