Essex Vet Stef Rodrigues has pased away

It is with much sadness that I received an email from Karen Poole, saying Stef had passed away on the 2^nd May 2016.   She would have been 70 years of age this coming July.   She had fought off breast cancer while living in Portugal.   Shen then moved to Phuket to live with her son Warren.  It was here that she developed stomach pains and was diagnosed with tumours on the liver and lungs.   She had been having various natural treatments via a clinic but was always against having chemotherapy, whatever the outcome.  She died peacefully surrounded by her family. 

I first met Stef in 1985, when she was playing for Chelmsford in an inter town match against Southend.   She was a member of Grove (Chelmsford) having also been a member of Marconi.    She then joined Billericay, where she played in various teams and mixed doubles with Les Cambridge, winning the Essex Individual Veterans Mixed Doubles in 1994.  She was also a member of Connaught.   After this she became a member of Westcliff Hardcourt Tennis Club, where she played Essex 1^st Division Ladies Doubles, mainly with Karen. 

In the Southend & District Tournaments she had an impressive record.   She won: - 

               1991      Ladies Singles

               1992      Ladies Singles

               1993      Ladies Doubles with Dawn Handelaar

               2001      Ladies Doubles with Karen Poole

               2001      Ladies over 35’s Doubles with Dawn Handelaar

               2002      Ladies Doubles with Karen Poole

               2002      Ladies over 35’s Doubles with Dawn Handelaar

               2003      Ladies Doubles with Dawn Handelaar

               2003      Ladies over 35’s Doubles with Karen Poole            

In 1992, she introduced Les and me to The 45 Club, a nomadic club playing mainly mixed doubles tournament.   She had a brilliant record here. 

In the early 1990, I played singles with her every week.   She was such a good competitor, playing mainly from the base line, where she regularly used her excellent forehand to hit the side lines. 

She regularly played for the County in the Ladies Veterans Teams and played in many open tournaments, where her favourite was the Frinton Veterans Open Tournament. 

Her husband Manny, wished to return to his native Portugal, which they did in 2004.   He was an excellent golfer but was struggling with heart problems.   He sadly died soon after they moved to Portugal.   Stef had stopped playing tennis and took up golf, where she became an adequate player.

 Her many friends will be sorry to read this obituary but will be glad to know that she is out of pain.

Ian Pitt