Northern California Squash Inducts Inaugural Hall of Fame Class by John Lau Left to right: Matthew Eichmann (Alex Eichmann's son), Dick Crawford,
Tom Dashiell, Brett Elebash, John Lau, Bruce Gaynor (Peter Gaynor's son),
David Tepper
photo courtesy Steve Line
October 3rd, 2019
Even after the long passing of years, the game of squash keeps on giving, and giving, and giving.
On a cool and brisk Monday evening on the last day in September at
the Finals of the Oracle Netsuite Open, a special group of squash
players was feted as the first class of the Northern California Squash
Racquets Association's Hall of Fame.
All were enthusiastic players. All were players of accomplishment.
However, this group should be remembered not for their playing
victories, but for their acts of generosity of giving back to the
game. They voluntarily served as Presidents and Secretary of
NorCal. They were supporters, leaders, and promoters of Squash.
This group was the living embodiment of the game that we all love.
They are the doyens of the game in Northern California.
Alex Eichmann
Alex was one of the most significant figures in the history of Northern California squash.
A superb all-around athlete, he excelled in many other sports.
Eichmann dominated squash on the Pacific Coast with more than 40
tournament wins, highlighted by winning the Pacific Coast Singles
Championships in ’67, ’69, ’70 and ’72. He was also a six-time
California State Singles Champion.
In 1975, he retired from competition but not from squash. Alex built
the 4 hardball court Peninsula Squash Club in San Mateo, and later the
8 hardball court Squash Club of San Francisco which in 1983, hosted the
US National Hardball Championships.
Eichmann’s enormous contributions sealed his status as one of the leading figures of West Coast squash.
Dick Crawford
Crawford came to California after an impressive sports career in college and then the US Army.
In 1969, Dick founded the Northern California Squash Racquets
Association and served as its first president. During his tenure, to satisfy the hunger of organized play, he formed an
extremely successful inter-club league system that exists to this day.
From the very beginning, Dick saw the bright hope and potential of Cal
squash. As the energetic coach, Dick inspired his players to follow
that vision. They loved their coach. He was a natural leader who
engendered inspiration with selfless effort, as Crawford took his teams on
a quest for glory, but always humbly to the true joy of hard work and
commitment by always giving everything they had.
Peter Gaynor
Peter Gaynor had a spiritual side dedicated to squash, particularly
doubles squash; so much so that he was considered the high priest of
his spiritual group. He would frequently show that spiritual side by
traveling to his favorite place of worship and entering the plain and
simple building that was his spiritual home. He would always, without
fail, dress reverently and carefully in simple clothes including his
signature sleeveless vest adorned with a smiling Jester on it.
While playing, Peter enjoyed to joke and banter with the three others
in his place of worship. Peter’s love of communion extended beyond the
chamber of worship and his ability to quip would grow throughout the
evening. Succeeding Crawford, Peter was also a President of NorCal
Squash who in 1983 led the successful effort to host the US National Singles
Championships in San Francisco.
Brett Elebash
Elebash’s squash education began in earnest at San Mateo's Peninsula
Squash Club where she was initially taught by club owner extraordinaire Alex
Eichmann.
In the ‘77-78 season, Brett won the Cal State Championship women’s
title with a notable win by defeating Nancy Gengler, the 1976 U.S.
Intercollegiate Champion.
After playing for several years in the Bay Area, she dominated the
NorCal Women’s A Championships from ’78 through ‘83 earning the #1
ranking each year.
After the 1979-80 season, Elebash became the first woman player from Northern California to earn a US national ranking.
In 2001, Brett was also bestowed the U.S. National Singles 45+ Women's
Softball Title. Amidst her victories, she served as Secretary for
NorCal Squash.
John Lau
Growing up in San Francisco, John Lau was always regarded as a striving athlete.
Over the course of his storied career, John collected innumerable
important victories. Among his triumphs were the 1991 and 1992 U.S.
National 35+ Singles Championships. In 1989, turning his efforts to
doubles, he, with his partner Gordon Anderson, won the US National
Doubles 40+ Championship.
John is also being feted for his unflagging devotion to the game of
squash, and for guiding many legions of players through his kindness
and encouragement, regardless of skill or professional levels. For over
30 years he guided the squash program at the University Club of SF and,
more broadly, across Northern California.
Among many other contributions to the growth and health of the game, for two years, John served as President of NorCal Squash.
Tom Dashiell
As a Bay Area newcomer in the mid-seventies, Tom Dashiell announced his
arrival by winning the Ralfe Miller Invitational at UC Berkeley to
begin the 1974-75 season.
An outstanding season with many tournament wins was capped by Tom winning the season-ending NorCal Championship.
For the 1975-76 season, Dashiell completed a clean sweep of California
squash titles by winning the NorCal/University Club Championships - his
seventh tournament victory of that season.
Tom also contributed to the advancement of the game as President of NorCal Squash.
David Tepper
David Tepper was a two-term NorCal President (1976-1978), and under his
able leadership, the Association grew at a remarkable rate.
Under his stewardship, NorCal squash membership nearly doubled and sixteen new courts were built in the West Bay.
This expansion also created greater responsibility for him and his fellow NorCal officers.
He led the game's growth which provided players, particularly women and juniors, greater opportunities to play in the region.
David’s highlight while in college was playing #1 for Cornell against
Harvard. In his playing career, David won numerous titles including
California State and Pacific Coast doubles titles.
During their playing careers, the crowning achievement among this
group was not their tournament titles nor their individual
achievements but their administrative leadership and contributions to
the growth and health of the game.
