Tennis tournament raises funds for epilepsy support
Laura Holtz; 2023 tournament winners L-R: Rjay Basco, Seth Manjos, Mark Bochner, Eric Bochner
Laura Holtz started playing tennis earlier than most children. Her introduction to the game began in 1983 at the age of 6 when her older sister, Christine, brought her to lessons and told instructor John Trinity, “I’ve got to keep an eye on my sister. Don’t worry, she’ll just sit in the corner and be quiet.” Trinity decided to find Laura a racket and let her join the lessons.
“She was probably the youngest and longest student we’ve ever had, because she started before you’re supposed to,” says Trinity, an instructor from Maplewood Recreation. “She took lessons year after year. Then in high school, she started helping out.”
Trinity has a long involvement with Maplewood Recreation. After teaching tennis for the town during college, he pitched an idea to thenrecreation director Roger Brauchli. He envisioned running a tennis program through the township with the same programs that a tennis club would have. Brauchli liked his suggestion. In 1991 the Maplewood Tennis Program began with Trinity as the director of tennis. They subsequently hired staff as the program became very successful.
Holtz became one of the staff members, teaching children’s lessons and the summer tennis camp. Her involvement lasted through her first year of college. Sadly, Holtz passed away in 1997 at age 20 from complications relating to epilepsy, a neurological disorder that causes seizures when nerve cell activity in the brain is disrupted.
Twenty years later, in 2017, Trinity helped organize a doubles tournament to honor Holtz’s memory, raising about $1,200 and donating the proceeds to the NJ Epilepsy Foundation.
When Noreen Gomez, Holtz’s mother, heard about the tournament’s success, she became involved, along with her family and friends, to increase participation. Now in its sixth year and named the Annual Laura Holtz Tennis Tournament to Fight Epilepsy, Trinity and Gomez are hoping to beat last year’s total of $7,000. They now donate the funds to Epilepsy Services of New Jersey, a nonprofit dedicated to helping to improve the quality of life for people affected by epilepsy and their loved ones.
Tragically, Gomez lost a second daughter, Katie, to epilepsy in 2017. Two of her four daughters had the disease. She says Katie’s first seizure was at age 14 and Laura’s happened at the Tuscan School when she was 10 years old. Although their lives were cut short, Gomez says, “I was very fortunate because both Katie and Laura had a life. They never limited themselves.”
Gomez says people with epilepsy tend to hold back on participating in experiences because of the looming threat of another seizure. Gomez sees the tournament as a chance to make people aware of the disease. She says, “It’s amazing how many people still don’t understand anything about epilepsy.” She said she wished she had the community of support that Epilepsy Services of New Jersey provides when her daughters were alive.
Trinity looks forward to each tournament. He says, “A lot of Laura’s friends and family come out. It’s almost like a little bit of a reunion of the people that knew the Holtzes.” Although remembering a tragedy like this can be hard, Trinity says, “Initially when I would think about Laura, I would feel sad. And now it’s different. By having this tournament, you still miss her. But you can just find something positive about the whole thing.”
In a Facebook post, Christine Holtz Ryan, the older sister who brought Laura along to her lessons so many years ago, wrote, “My family, [my sister] Maureen Reid and I used to do a charity walk for Epilepsy every year in DC. I don’t have the heart for it anymore since Kate died. More than 3.4 million people suffer from this disease. No one is immune from it: whether you’re born with it or develop it or love someone with it. There is so much for scientists and doctors to understand about our brains that there is still no cure for epilepsy, just treatments that might work. If you love to play tennis, please check out this awesome tournament being held in my sister’s name. There’s even a trophy to win. If tennis isn’t your thing and you’re wondering what else you could do, a donation goes a long way.”
This year’s doubles tournament, sponsored by the Maplewood Recreation Department, will take place Sept. 7-8 for adults ages 21 and over at the Memorial Park and Walter Park Tennis Courts. The cost is $50 per team and includes a tournament t-shirt. To register, visit maplewood. recdesk.com/Community/Program. For more information, contact John Trinity at mplwdten@aol.com.
Trinity says the organizers are grateful for the support of Melissa Mancuso, director of community services for the township, with getting the tournament started and promoting the cause.
Ellen Donker, a former neighbor of Noreen Gomez, is inspired by her strength and willingness to give back for such a personal and important cause.
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