Family and friends of late tennis journalist BUD COLLINS on Friday gathered inside Trinity Church at Copley Square "for a two-hour memorial service to celebrate his life," a ceremony that was "witty and smart and touching," according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the BOSTON GLOBE. Collins passed away in March. Some of the biggest names in the game, including ROD LAVER, STAN SMITH, BILLIE JEAN KING, and CHRIS EVERT, "came from far and wide to speak fondly of a man who was their loyal friend, their trusted confidant, and the singular authority of the sport he so dearly loved." They "shared stories of Collins’s clever turns of phrase, his trademark crazy wardrobe, his passion for everything about the game and everyone who played it." Evert said, "Bud was one of the finest and tennis will never be the same. He will be the lasting imprint on our sport, and on our souls." Dupont noted King "wore a shocking pink jacket to the ceremony." She said pink was Bud's "favorite color." Other notable attendees included CBS Sports' LESLEY VISSER, broadcaster DICK ENBERG, NBC Sports' BOB COSTAS, the N.Y. Daily News' MIKE LUPICA, NPR's FRANK DEFORD and the Boston Globe's BOB RYAN and DAN SHAUGHNESSY. Ryan and Shaughnessy "joined retired Globe staffer JOHN POWERS as ushers." Collins' wife, photographer ANITA RUTHLING KLAUSSEN "spoke of her good fortune to be 'married to an angel' these last 20-plus years." Her voice "choked with emotion near the end of the ceremony, a fete she painstakingly prepared the past three-plus months." Klaussen said, "Bud will now and forever be the rainbow over Wimbledon" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/18).
SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO: Tennis Channel’s STEVE WEISSMAN said, “As a media member, we looked up to Bud, admired him, knew how much joy he brought to the broadcast and for players, he was trusted unlike any other.” Tennis Channel Chair & CEO KEN SOLOMON: “Every single person in this church has many, many Bud stories. Bud was so humble that he would just be probably quite shocked by all of this and yet everybody here is speaking about him with such reverence.” Tennis Channel’s JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: “He did so much for the sport and ... you knew it was special when Bud was there.” Tennis Channel’s LINDSAY DAVENPORT: “He loved our sport like no other and the way that he was able to cover it with such passion in all his different roles” (“Tennis Channel Live,” Tennis Channel, 6/18).
