Anyone who knew Gail, knew her family came first. Her husband of 34 years, Steve, was her high school sweetheart. Gail and Steve’s two children, Shannon and Patrick, were her prizes. The Sullivan family's golden retriever, Chewie, was Gail's faithful companion.
Gail loved tennis. Although she played and coached well into her 50’s, Gail would most often talk about her days playing at the Plum Beach Club where she and her life long friend Sue Wilcox Greenfield would battle it out in the finals every year. And later, as her children grew up playing tennis at Plum Beach, they would often argue about who got to have Gail as a partner during the annual Parent-Child Tournament. She was a fantasic tennis player.
Gail’s gifts were many but one that stands out was an ability to make friends that lasted her lifetime. Gail’s circle of friends stretched from her youth at Plum Beach Club all the way to the doctors, nurses, and support personnel at the RI Cancer Center and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She had a smile for everyone. Regardless of how she felt, she was a positive force to all she came in contact with. In fact, Gail could find something to smile about in just about every moment of her life, because Gail could find beauty in every moment. That might sound trite, but she truly did. She was content just watching the birds eating from her feeders or looking at her beautiful gardens. She was content in any moment given her.
On August 2, 2012, Gail passed away after a long battle with multiple myeloma. The loss of Gail devastated her family and friends, but we continue to keep her memory and spirit alive through the Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic. We are sure that nothing makes Gail happier than knowing that her family and friends are getting together because of her. She would want us all to get together often to celebrate our love for her and each other, especially while benefiting her beloved students at RI School for the Deaf.
Copyright 2013 © The Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic, Inc.
The First Annual Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic
Saturday, August 24, 2013 5PM-9PM
West Bay - Tennis RI 636 Centerville Road Warwick, RI 02886
The tournament will be a round robin of men's and women's doubles.
There will be 24 teams total; 12 men's doubles teams and 12 women's doubles teams.
To register to play, please visit the "Register/Donate" tab (see above).
Directions to West Bay - Tennis RI:
From I-95 North:
From I-95 South:
Copyright 2013 © The Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic, Inc.
DONATE
Can't play in the tournament but still want to support the RI School for the Deaf? We accept donations through our secure, non-profit PayPal account. Click the "Donate" button below, then click the "Don't have a PayPal account?" text to pay with credit card.
100% of the proceeds will be used to make a difference in the lives of the students at RI School for the Deaf*. Thank you!
REGISTER FOR THE TOURNAMENT
Click on the drop-down menu below to select men's/women's doubles, then click the "Buy Now" button to register. Please sign up individually, but make sure to include the name of your doubles partner in the "Add" field. Also, please include your t-shirt size (S-XL) in the "Add" field.
Don't have a partner? Not a problem. Send us a message through the "Contact Us" tab and we will try to set you up with a partner!
If you prefer to register through the mail,
CLICK HERE to download our registration form.
*All donations will go through the Friends of RI School for the Deaf, a 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the school.
Copyright 2013 © The Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic, Inc.
The RI School for the Deaf is a critical, strategic, and responsive educational center with a commitment to educational excellence for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It is a pre-kindergarten through high school program.
Gail taught Health and Physical Education at RI School for the Deaf for over 30 years. She also participated in many extracurriculars, such as coaching the Field Hockey team and helping out with school plays. Anyone who knew Gail well understood how much the RI School for the Deaf meant to her. It was more than a job. It was a vocation. Next to her family, it may have been the most important part of her life. When Gail was first diagnosed with cancer, she had to spend the first year rehabbing her body and mind to her new reality. The constant contact she received from her RISD family energized her. She could not wait to get back there and teach again. It had something to do with the relationships she had formed with the teachers over the previous 30 years. More importantly, it was the kids that brought out the best in Gail. She adored them and it showed in the commitment she had for them. When asked why she went back to work by countless people, her husband Steve would respond that this was the best therapy Gail could receive. The people and students at RISD lifted Gail’s spirit when she needed it most.
Gail cared deeply about her students, both in and out of the classroom. She was committed to their educational development as well as to improving their lives. 73% of the students at RI School for the Deaf are living in poverty*. There are many ways the tournament proceeds can be used to better the lives of the students, including sending students to educational camps and an Academic Bowl, helping to build a community garden with educational benefits, after school programs, and enrichment programs for the students and their families. We thank you in advance for your kindness and support.
From a faculty member at RISD:
"Gail was an integral part of our RISD family. She was respected by colleagues and students. She didn't demand respect but yet earned it. She showed students that she cared about them as people in the strong relationships she formed in and out of the classroom. She was caring, warm, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and accessible to the students and her colleagues. Gail wanted to make life better for our students and always encouraged them to make the right choices. She led by example."
*This figure is based on the number of students who receive free or reduced lunch.
Copyright 2013 © The Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic, Inc.
Thanks to all who made the First Annual Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic a success!
Thanks to everyone who played in and supported our first tournament! We had a great time, and we raised over $10,000 for the RI School for the Deaf! Please see the "Event Photos" tab for photos from the first event. See you next year!
The Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic is a memorial tennis tournament in honor of Gail Sullivan. All proceeds will benefit the Rhode Island School for the Deaf (RISD).
To register for the tournament or to donate to The Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic, Inc., please visit the "Register/Donate" tab (see above). 100% of the proceeds will benefit the students and community of the RI School for the Deaf.
Copyright 2013 © The Gail Sullivan Tennis Classic, Inc.