USTA Florida is saddened to learn of the passing of William “Bill” McDermott, a true icon for tennis at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center.
Born on July 12, 1949, in Hartford, Connecticut, he moved to Florida when he was just 9 years old. Bill was known as a genuine and caring person, who would always lend his kindness to anyone that needed it. He was also extremely smart and known for his photographic memory and was often referred to as the “in-house walking dictionary.”
For more than the past 20 years, Bill spent his time at Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center, where he had various roles growing the game of tennis. He had a deep passion for youth tennis and was a long-time tournament director as well.
Outside of tennis, Bill was constantly volunteering and giving back. He was a guide at MacArthur Beach Nature Center, as he was a keen bird watcher and enjoyed the beauty of nature. He was heavily involved at St. Clare Catholic Church where he was a reader and member of the choir. Bill was also a Third Degree member of the Santa Maria Council of the Knights of Columbus.
Bill touched the lives of many and leaves behind a legacy that will carry on throughout many. Here are some of the many memories his peers have shared.
Wendy Tatum, the Tennis & Pickleball Director at PBGTC reflected on her friendship with Bill and the legacy he helped build.
“He was a dear friend to many and made a huge contribution to growing the game of tennis for 30 years,” she shared. “There are so many lives he touched, including mine.” Wendy also remembered one of her favorite memories with Bill, when the tennis center won the Member Organization of the Year in 2018. “We were going to Orlando to accept the award, and I told Bill I would like him to accept on our behalf as he was the best writer and speaker. He looked shocked but instantly got to work on writing it. He was very nervous to get up on stage, but he did and he nailed it!”
As a dedicated tournament director, Bill gave so many young players a platform to compete on, no matter the circumstances. Maria and Lily Schreiber shared a few stories about his dedication to tennis.
Maria, a mother of a young athlete, remembered how Bill would hold all the kids to a certain standard when it came to sportsmanship and competition, which was referred to as ‘The Talk’ and was given before every tournament.
“I first heard ‘The Talk’ when my daughter was nine, I overheard the same talk many years later. The essence of it was, we are here to compete but also here to be our best selves,” Maria said. She also talked about his dedication to making sure the kids had the best experience. “When the rain came on a tournament day, Bill never threw in the towel,” Maria recalled. “He worked tirelessly to get all the matches on. Bill McDermott was a gentleman and a scholar. It was a gift to cross his path.”
Lily Schreiber with Bill McDermott
Maria’s daughter, Lily, has known Bill for nearly 20 years, when she first competed at the PBGTC. “The pain and emotion I feel because of his loss is truly insurmountable. He was more like an uncle, someone who watched me grow up and supported me in all areas of my life outside of tennis,” she said. “He had an enormous impact at the tennis center and in the lives of every player lucky enough to experience his presence.”
Another set of parents, Jimmy and Amy Frank, talked about Bill’s legacy and how he was a huge part of their family’s life for the last 25 years. Bill had the chance to work with their children Joey and Amanda, who took part in many competitive tennis tournaments that Bill ran. “Bill was a true sea of tranquility, fairness, and calm. I only wish every junior tournament our children played had been under his auspices,” the Frank Family said.
Amanda competed in many of Bill’s tournaments.
In 2016, the family tragically lost their daughter, Jamie. Following that, the Frank Family started a special needs tennis clinic in partnership with the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis Center and Bill became a huge part of its success. “He took pride in taking pictures of the participants and volunteering his time to the program,” the family said. “He had a natural ability to connect with the special needs children and volunteers who helped with the clinics. We will miss Bill’s kindness, leadership, and quiet strength, and we remain grateful for the role he played in our family’s life.”
Jeannette Gumula, a former staff member at the tennis center, will always remember Bill as a kind soul who loved tennis, his community, his church, and his faith. She also loved his sense of humor, especially once you got him going. “I’ll never forget how he’d load his face up with so much sunscreen, then follow it with a good spray all over before stepping outside,” she recalled. “The smell was so strong, people would send him out just to get some fresh air.”
She added that he was always a good sport, whether at work or while having fun. “We’d get him to dance to music, knowing full well he had two left feet and zero rhythm, but that never stopped him from giving it a go,” Jeannette said. “Eventually, he took up ballroom dancing, and a few other styles, when he retired, and he loved it.”
“Bill loved his family and friends deeply, and his absence has definitely left a gap, but the love I have for him will stick around forever,” she added. “I’ll always remember Bill as the kind-hearted guy who never failed to put a smile on my face. Just thinking of him still brings one to mine.”
Bill McDermott’s legacy will live on through the many lives that he touched throughout his years volunteering and working to grow the game of tennis.
Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to St. Clare’s “Building Our Future Legacy” Capital Campaign.
USTA Florida sends its deepest condolences to Bills’ family, friends, and the numerous people he inspired. He has been a true role model for Florida Tennis in Palm Beach County.
USTA Florida does not own the rights to any pictures in this article. All pictures were submitted by friends and family members of Bill McDermott
