- April 29, 2024
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Robert T. Ruff award recipient Larry Straff and Longboat Key Club Tennis Association President Larry Coleman
Bill and Alice Harper
Kerry Gorman, Kathy Grogan, Fran Fergusson and Camille Weiser
Kerry Gorman, Diane Gans, Frank Fergusson, Ken Gorman, John Woods, Camille Weiser, Jeff Carter and Robyn Schmitt
Cathy Kaplinski with Sheila and Charles Nemes
Mary Lou Nicolato, Brenda Lederman, Diane Gans and Judy Kozlowski
Corrine Schaffer, Syma and Jay Cohn and John Blume
Bill Beckmeyer, Bob Coyne, Harold Ronson, Bob Ruff, John Woods and Reid Wettersten
Larry Straff shakes hands with friends on his way to accept the Robert T. Ruff award on Nov. 14.
Larry Straff and Larry Coleman share a laugh as Straff accepts the Robert T. Ruff.
Larry Straff accepts his award at the Longboat Key Club Tennis Association’s Fall Frolic.
Larry Straff accepts his award at the Longboat Key Club Tennis Association’s Fall Frolic.
Larry and Roberta Straff
Chris and Ken Gumbiner
Fran Blum and Hadi Lashkajani
Bonnie Wilder and Barbara Guiriconi
Audrey and Ian Sharp with Fred and Diana Emrich
Bottom row: Suzanne Reiman, Katie Cornell and Isabella Paspa; Top row: Joyce Welch, Bonnie Wilder and Marie Watts
Sandy and Terry Schonhoff
John Blume, Bernie and Gail Katz and Bonny and Bub Israeloff
For the past 18 years, Larry Straff has been a dedicated member of the Longboat Key Tennis Association.
And on Nov. 14, he was recognized with the Robert T. Ruff Award at the association’s Fall Frolic at the Longboat Key Club’s Harbourside Dining Room. The award is given to an individual who helps promote and help the association, President Larry Coleman said.
The nine-member board unanimously voted Straff as this year’s recipient. Straff accepted his award to a standing ovation from the 120 members present. Upon his acceptance, he joked with Bob Ruff, whom the award is named after, about having an award in his name. Ruff laughed and said he had no say in the vote.
Straff, a past board member himself, was surprised by the honor.
“It’s very, very touching,” he said.
Straff runs several tennis games for the association, and Coleman calls him a well-known figure in the area.
“He’s very active,” Coleman said. “He’s deserving. He’s been here for a very long time.”
