The Tribune

THE Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association and the community, especially in Grand Bahama, mourns the unexpected passing of Kevin “Sandy” Reid, a former tennis player and coach.

Sandy grew up on the tennis courts in Grand Bahama learning to play tennis from his mother, Olga Althea Reid, herself an avid tennis player. Sandy played in the era of Mark Knowles and Roger Smith, also of Grand Bahama.

Sandy spent more than 20 years in the US teaching and playing tennis in the Orlando, Florida, area, before his return home in 2013 to contribute to the game and in particular the youths. Sandy had a passion for the game.

Speaking on behalf of the Tennis Bahamas community, BLTA presidential hopeful candidate Ken Kerr expressed deep shock and sadness on hearing the news. “The country has lost a great Bahamian, Grand Bahama has lost a son, our tennis community has lost a great friend, player, coach and tennis enthusiast who only wanted to see the proper development of the game, especially among our junior tennis players who have so much potential,” Kerr said.

He was a fixture at the National Tennis Centre.

Derron Donaldson, Bahamas Olympic Committee secretary and former BLTA president and Grand Bahamian, added that Sandy’s passing is a tremendous loss to the sport of tennis. “Sandy lived and breathed tennis being a player and coach. Sandy was famously known for the American twist serve and his hard mouth on and off the court,” Donaldson said. “Sandy was like family to me and as a teenager I was able to go up to him and train from time to time.

“I remember him calling me whilst I was president of the BLTA to say he was coming home and would like to coach and that he did. He coached several former top players. In recent years, Sandy lost his mum and gravitated back to Grand Bahama where he was originally born and raised and was able to put on a tournament in his mom’s honour and was really planning on doing so much more for Grand Bahamas Tennis.

“Sandy will be missed and hopefully his passion for the game lives on. May he rest in peace.”

Said Bjorn Ferguson, a former top junior and vice-presidential candidate in the upcoming elections: “Sandy was a very instrumental player and coach in the development of the game in this country.

“He worked tirelessly in the sport and became a fixture on the local tennis scene. From the coaching perspective, Sandy was the go-to guy if you wanted to learn and develop a kick serve,” Ferguson said.

“He was a specialist in that regard. We have lost a giant. I join with my colleagues and fellow players in paying homage to this great soul, Mr Kevin Sandy Reid. On behalf of myself and family we wish Sandy’s family God’s peace during this time.”

Kerr concluded that hopefully some of the changes that Sandy envisioned can be realised with “the much-needed changes in the tennis leadership in the Bahamas.”