by James Zug
Deaths
Eric C. Fast
Eric Fast died in July at the age of seventy-four. He served on the board of US Squash from 2004-2010 and later the founding chair of the board of the College Squash Association. He was awarded the President’s Cup in 2010.
Purdy C. Jordan
Purdy Jordan died in November at the age of ninety-four. Born in Illinois, Jordan spent much of his life in Mexico. He was an avid, well-traveled squash player into his nineties. In 1990 he helped start the Copa Wadsworth (the annual U.S. v. Mexico match) which he oversaw for more than thirty years.
Alexander B. Martin
Sandy Martin died in November at the age of seventy-seven. He was an avid doubles player, winning many Maryland state titles and the national men’s 40+ in 1987, 1988 and 1989 and 60+ in 2008. He survived a heart attack on the doubles court of the Maryland Club in 2006.
David M. Talbott
Dave Talbott died in September at the age of seventy-one. A former top player, he was the coach at Yale for thirty-eight years, leading the Eli to six national team titles and eight Ivy League championships. He was inducted into the College Squash Association Hall of Fame in 2019.
Ray Widelski
Ray Widelski died in March at the age of eighty-seven. For more than a half century he was a teaching pro at several New York-area clubs, including the Harvard Club. He won the Tournament of Champions in 1960.
Retirements
Mathieu Castagney
In March Mathieu Castagnet retired at the age of thirty-six. The Frenchman won four PSA titles, three French national titles and helped lead France to the European Team title in 2018. He reached a career high of world No.6.
Olivia Blatchford Clyne
In December Olivia Blatchford Clyne retired at the age of thirty. The American had a storied junior career, including capturing four U.S. titles and in 2007 becoming just the second American to win a British Junior Open title. She spent seventeen years full-time on the PSA tour, reaching world No. 11. She captured seven PSA titles, as well as two National Singles and at four Pan American Games brought home a total of nine medals. In 2017 she was the US Squash nominee for USOPC Athlete of the Year.
Borja Golan
In May Borja Golan retired at the age of forty. The best player in Spanish squash history, he reached world No. 5 and won thirty-three titles during his twenty-two years on tour.
Donna Urquhart Lobban
In January Donna Urquhart Lobban retired at the age of thirty-six. The Australian reached world No.13 and played for Australia in six World Teams, including leading the Aussies to the title in 2010. She also won three medals at the Commonwealth Games, including gold with her cousin Cameron Pilley in 2018.
Haley Mendez
In May Haley Mendez retired at the age of twenty-nine. The American represented the U.S. three times at the World Juniors, helping the U.S. finish second in 2011. She was twice a captain at Harvard, where she led the Crimson to three national team titles and was a three-time All American. She reached world No. 36.
New Courts
Houston Squash Club, Houston—four singles
Indian Mountain School, Lakeville, CT—four singles
Louisville Collegiate School, Louisville, KY—four singles
MSquash Sono, Norwalk, CT—two singles
de Ramel Family Squash Center, Newport YMCA, RI—six singles, one doubles
Open Squash FiDi, New York—eight singles
Seven Hills School, Cincinnati, OH—two singles
