Senior Corner

January/February 2008
By Olga & Stan Kahan,

Co-Chairs, USATT Senior Committee

949-830-6699 (ph) • 949-240-7167 (fax)

natashafeingold@gmail.com

With the old year ending, there was a huge amount of action in local, regional, national and even international circles of senior table tennis. The first USA International Veterans Tournament (IVC), with over 120 participants, including those from China, Canada, Hong Kong, Russian, Singapore, and Taiwan, was held this past December in Las Vegas. It was directed by Meiklejohn Veterans Craig Krum and his assistant Masaru Hashimoto and chaired by Olga Kahan with assistance from her husband, Stan. Able volunteers from Nevada; the IVC Committee members Dan and Marina Cravens; Jerry Ladd and Californian Marilyn Miller; with support and help from the USATT Headquarters staff; namely Felisa Huggins, Tournaments Director; Deborah Gray, Finance Director; and Joyce Grooms, Membership Director; all pitched in to make this event a success. There were financial contributions from the Meiklejohn North American Seniors TT Tournament committee and from the United States Table Tennis Hall of Famer, Si Wasserman. (See the IVC Results by Dr. Azmy Ibrahim).
On on Sunday, December 16, 2007, William Meiklejohn, California Table Tennis Hall of Famer and the main sponsor of the largest seniors table tennis tournament in the country, passed away in his sleep at his Laguna Woods Village home. Almost two decades ago, Bill established the Meiklejohn National Seniors Table Tennis Tournament. The tournament’s title was renamed the Meiklejohn North American Seniors Table Tennis Tournament, which also opened doors to mature players – permanent residents of the North American continent. The National Senior Table Tennis Tournament Association has officially announced that beginning this year, 2008, the tournament will be called the Meiklejohn Memorial North American Seniors Table Tennis Tournament and it will be held this year from June 5 – 8 in Laguna Woods, CA.
In June 2009, there will be celebrations with regard to the twentieth anniversary of the grand event which will be dedicated to Bill Meiklejohn’s memory. In his final months, Bill battled with disease and was cared for by physicians and staff in the Meiklejohn Critical Care Pavilion, the emergency and intensive care facility at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, which was named in Bill and Louise’s honor. Over the last 33 years, Bill and his wife donated more than 86-million dollars to this non-profit hospital. Bill was also extremely generous to his alma mater, University of Pennsylvania, where there is a stadium in his name and scholarship made possible by his contributions. By the way, three table tennis tournaments were also arranged at U. Penn during recent years by Bill’s request and insistence.
A simple, honest, and happy-go-lucky man, Bill Meiklejohn, a table tennis enthusiast, enjoyed sharing with others. He remembered early days in his life when he walked barefoot to school in Oakland, CA, because his family could not afford to buy him shoes. Bill Meiklejohn – you always will be in our hearts. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and humanity – we love you!