Who Was Alan G. Schwartz

At a time when tennis was often seen as exclusive, Alan challenged that idea.
He believed the sport should be accessible, welcoming, and rooted in community.
And he acted on that belief creating programs, opening courts, and investing in young people who might never have picked up a racquet otherwise. In fact, Alan’s work at Midtown Athletic Club in the 1990s, laid the foundation for the meaningful delivery of tennis through a partnership with the Chicago Park District called “Play Tennis Chicago.”

But it was 20+ years earlier that Alan led a group of fellow players committed to the belief that tennis belongs to anyone and everyone. Armed with this shared value (and racquets and balls), they launched the Chicago Youth Action Tennis program introducing thousands of young people to the game.

Alan had a deep connection and commitment to tennis. Over the span of his 91 years, the scope of his influence and the list of his accomplishments made it seem as if he’d lived two lifetimes.

Alan was born November 7, 1931, in New York City, the first child of Kevie W. Schwartz and Vera (Isaacs) Schwartz. His educational trajectory began at PS 6, followed by Phillips Academy (Andover) '48, Yale University '52, and Harvard Business School '54.

From a young age, sports figured prominently in his life. At Andover, Alan captained the tennis team and lettered in swimming. Despite thinking of himself as a tennis player, it was his swimming that captured the attention of Yale's famed Coach Kiphuth, who recruited Alan for the swim team.

Despite many undergraduate escapades at Yale, Alan was accepted into the Harvard Business School, where he graduated with distinction. His work ethic having improved since his undergraduate days, he skipped graduation, opting instead to start work with his father in the chromium plating business in Chicago. Within a year, Alan and Kevie sold Dover Industries, and entered into commercial real estate.

Alan continued his tennis career after college, going on to win eight National Championships and seven Illinois State Championships. He has been inducted into ten halls of fame, including the Intercollegiate Tennis Hall of Fame, the Chicago Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Midwest Tennis Hall of Fame. Off the court, he served as a Board Member of the Tennis Channel, introduced the now ubiquitous 4" baseline, and was co-creator of the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP). He was also instrumental in creating the US Open Series.

Though he qualified to play at Wimbledon, he skipped the tournament figuring he'd make the cut the following year.

Playing tennis in Chicago, he grew frustrated there was no suitable place to play indoors throughout the winter. To solve the problem, Alan and his father built Midtown Tennis Club, then the world's largest. Today, Midtown (now Midtown Athletic Club), is considered the world's most successful health club.

Alan began his involvement with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) by hosting the Boys 14 National Indoor Championship at Midtown beginning in 1972. In 1995, he was elected to the USTA board, and later served as President. Additionally, he served as Vice President of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Alan passed away on December 2, 2022. For him, his tennis work was never about recognition.
It was about responsibility.
About giving back to the game that had given him so much.
About building something that would last.

The Alan G. Schwartz Community Tennis Program exists to carry that legacy forward.