MAC member Warren Sullivan celebrated his 100th birthday on Sept. 8. The WWII veteran stays active by playing tennis weekly at the West Clubhouse with MAC Tennis Pro Patrick McNally.

Sullivan has been a member of the MAC for about three years. He came to the MAC when his previous club began work on their tennis courts and he needed a place to play. Sullivan then fell in love with our indoor courts.

“Playing at the MAC has been really terrific,” Sullivan said. “The courts are great.” 

McNally and Sullivan are quite the duo.

“Pat is very good to me,” Sullivan said. “We play with severe limitations imposed on him. He is supposed to hit the center of my racquet, and I get to hit the corners. He gets a lot of exercise, and I get some too.”

McNally is extremely impressed with his star student.

He said, “to have both body and mind vibrant at that age is just outstanding.” 

Sullivan said he spent most of his time in the service before and during the Battle of the Bulge on reconnaissance patrol behind enemy lines. 

“The idea of capturing a German and interrogating him was very good,” he said. “But the reality was, the only way we could get their attention was by drawing their fire, and that was not as much fun, but it worked out okay.” 

Sullivan was 21 when the war was over. He then went on to finish college and graduate from law school. He started playing tennis in his late 30s, but he had a jump start by having watched his son, Doug, play countless times. 

“We played a father-son tournament, and it consisted mainly of my staying on my side of the court and Doug saying mine,” Sullivan remembered. “And we won.” 

As far as living to 100, Sullivan says his wife deserves all the credit.  

“It’s going to sound like a cliché, but the main thing really is my wife,” he gushed.

Louise Sullivan comes to the MAC every time her husband has a lesson. She waits patiently for him to finish.

Sullivan recounted that a couple of years ago he fell on the court and broke some ribs. He said he hasn’t fallen since.  

“I told her, I’m not doing that anymore, but she doesn’t believe me. She comes,” he said. “She takes good care of me.” 

McNally raved once more about his favorite student saying, “I just love the fact that he’s out here moving around and trying to stay fit and active.”