OBITUARIES

Arnold W. Bradshaw Jr. was born September 26,1941 to Violet (Farr) Bradshaw and Arnold W. Bradshaw Sr. in Erie, PA. He graduated from Erie Academy in 1959. He attended Edinboro State College. Choosing his field of study as a teacher was strictly God choosing his path ---- when asked what he wanted as his major his answer was "I'm here to play tennis." He was told he had to choose a major. At that moment a young man was walking by with "Elementary Ed" on a sign on his back. He told the check in lady -- "I'll take that". So that began his journey into teaching which would change his life and the life of countless others! And he did indeed play tennis at Edinboro - and was undefeated in 4 years! He is on the Edinboro Hall of Fame wall at the college, which is now Edinboro University.

Mr. Bradshaw began teaching in the Fall of 1963 at Spencer Elementary - 6th grade. After 11 years at Spencer, he moved up to Geneva Junior High where he taught 8th grade Math. Along with tennis, he also coached Junior High Basketball several years.

During the summers the Bradshaw Family would relocate to tennis jobs in various locations. Guys on the tennis team would join the family and help with the tennis. It became a true tennis family. They were at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY, Kahkwa Club in Erie, PA, Camp Mah-Kee-Nac in Lenox, MA, Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, SC. The last 7 summers were spent at home in Geneva, and he taught at a few clubs locally, but finally ended with several summers at Madison Country Club.

In the Spring of 1966 he started the Geneva Tennis team. He coached Geneva Tennis for 28 years, until 1993 when he retired. The overall team record was 485 wins and 44 loses. The NEC conference record was 346 wins and 4 losses. He was inducted into the Ohio Coaches Hall of Fame in 1993.

He received a letter from Governor George Voinovich when he retired in 1993. And the City of Geneva honored him with Arnold Bradshaw day on June 14, 1993.

When he retired Coach and Mrs. B headed to Spartanburg, SC for 3 1/2 years. They moved to newly opened Sun City Hilton Head, SC, in November of 1996 where they lived for 13 years. In 2009 they moved to Montgomery, AL - the hope of grandchildren taking them there. Hudson and Wyatt were born during the 12 years they called Montgomery home. The summer of 2021 brought them back to Geneva - an unexpected opportunity to help with the tennis legacy event that had been postponed for 2 summers in 2020 and 2021. It was scheduled to be held July 2022. Coach was on the tennis court 7 days a week helping however he could - from his arrival July 2021 until the season ended in October 2021. He was getting ready to set up a wonderful indoor program in the gym just like Geneva Tennis found success during his coaching era.

It would take a book to tell of the life of Coach Bradshaw. The lives he touched. His love for the Lord and the lives he touched that way. He and his wife, Kathy, got married June 21, 1969. 53 years of holding hands and sharing life together.

Coach B passed away April 10, 2022. The Tennis Legacy event in July 2022 ended up being a wonderful celebration of his life, as well as honoring the coaches that have carried on the tennis legacy.

He leaves behind his wife Kathy, older son Ben and his wife Erin, along with grandsons Hudson and Wyatt, and younger son, Abe. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Arnold and Vi, and his younger brother Eric.

Arnold “Arnie” W. Bradshaw, age 80, passed away on Sunday April 10, 2022. He was born on September 26, 1941 in Erie, PA and was the son of Arnold and Violet (Farr) Bradshaw. He married Kathleen Njus on June 21, 1969 in Ashtabula and they shared over 52 years of love and happiness.

Arnie (affectionately known as Coach) was a beloved teacher and mentor to many, especially within the Geneva Area City Schools were he previously taught and was a tennis coach. He was renowned in the tennis field and was inducted into the Ohio Tennis Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame 1994.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Kathleen and their two sons Benjamin and Abraham. Coach was also blessed with two grandsons, Hudson and Wyatt, from Benjamin and his wife Erin.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Eric.

Interment was at Evergreen Cemetery in Geneva. A Celebration of Life will be held In July.

Walker Funeral Home, 828 Sherman St. in Geneva, was honored to assist the family.

*** The following was published in The Star Beacon on April 14, 2022

Legendary Geneva Tennis Coach Bradshaw Remembered

Phil Dubsky recalls meeting Arnold Bradshaw at age 12. “Geneva only had two tennis courts, so I started hitting the ball against the wall,” the Geneva tennis player and graduate said. “He stopped and helped, I thought God was helping me. “He would stop by once a week.” Dubsky’s story is synomous with the many others shared about Bradshaw, Geneva’s legendary tennis coach, who died over the weekend. Born Sept. 26, 1941 in Erie, Pennsylvania, Bradshaw attended Academy High School in Erie. He played tennis his junior and senior seasons, qualifying to state his senior year in 1959. Bradshaw attended Edinboro State College in Pennsylvania and went undefeated, at 40-0, in tennis. He graduated in 1963. Bradshaw coached at Geneva from 1966-93, amassing a 485-44 (346-4 Northeast Conference mark). He became a member of the USTA in 1970, and played in the father-son divisions of the 1988 U.S. Open with his son, Ben. Bradshaw was inducted into the Ohio Tennis Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame in 1994. In the first 10 years of the program, Geneva’s boys team lost just two matches. The program has accrued 48 conference titles since 1966. On the girls side, the Eagles have gained 16 conference championships in 22 title opportunities. The lasting legacy and knowledge Bradshaw shared with his former players and coaches is evident today. “Next to my wife, [Suzanne Aiken Shannon] and parents, [John Robert and Judy Shannon), he was the most influential person in my life,” said Geneva graduate and tennis player Shawn Shannon. “He opened his arms so much for me and my family.” Shannon said, when he was in the service in 1982 stationed in Germany, he received a christmas card from Bradshaw. “He was a special person,” Shannon said. Tennis was Bradshaw’s main sport for coaching, but he also tried his hand at another — basketball. “My first situation meeting him was in 1974,” said Doug Ellis, a Geneva graduate. “He was our seventh-grade basketball coach. “I hadn’t realized that was his first year of coaching basketball. We went 17-0 and won a championship.” Ellis said Bradshaw sought out help from former Geneva and Rutgers standout Gary Kreilach. “He reached out to resources he trusted,” Ellis said. “He was so prepared and confident in what he was doing. He’s truly the finest man I’ve ever known. The impact he had on me is so deep.” Ellis also played tennis and still has the first racquet he received from Bradshaw at age 13, after that basketball season. “He taught us the way we moved on a basketball court is the same as tennis, and told me that I could get to most balls,” Ellis said. “He told me to just get your racquet on the ball and we will refine the mechanics. He was so supportive and positive, he sold me on tennis.” Bradshaw also taught Ellis and his seventh-grade teammates life lessons. “We were acting up on the bus coming home from a game,” Ellis said. “The next day we ran and ran. When it was over, the grudge was gone.” Ellis uses Bradshaw’s principles in business. “Everybody has a role and no role is more important,” Ellis said. Current Eagles girls and boys coach Scott Torok said Bradshaw’s knowledge was invaluable. “Even 30 years after his retirement, he was a vital part of the program,” Torok said. “I learned so much from him. He was always supportive. I would tell him, I’m just trying to keep the torch lit.” Although he was a long-time part of the Geneva tennis community, Bradshaw’s impact with the sport stretched to other parts of the county and beyond. “I got to know him when he was in his upper 60s at Pine Lake [a tennis club in Perry],” St. John girls and boys coach Todd Nassief said. “I didn’t get to know him when I was younger, I admired him from afar. “Over the last decade, I would pick his brain and we learned from each other.” Nassief said Bradshaw adapted. “The game has changed,” Nassief said. “And coach Bradshaw knew the modern game as well as anyone.” Nassief uses Bradshaw’s principles in his coaching. “The first thing when you’re coaching is you want people to enjoy themselves,” Nassief said. “You want to be organized, efficient and encouraging.” Nassief said Bradshaw even visited him a week ago. “He was still giving me handouts, passing on his knowledge, thinking of others,” Nassief said. Bradshaw’s mentorship, wisdom, teaching abilities and caring reached far greater than the tennis courts. He talked to and guided former players in the tennis community and beyond about family, life situations, coaching and helped those in need. “I’m deeply saddened by his passing,” said Dubsky, who was Geneva’s boys head coach from 2000-15. “It’s a great loss for the Geneva tennis community past, present and future. “The number of lives he impacted positively is incalculable.” Bradshaw’s legacy, though, will continue. The courts at Geneva are officially being renamed Bradshaw Courts during the weekend of July 8-10. A new sign will be unveiled and other events are scheduled.

https://www.starbeacon.com/sports/legendary-geneva-tennis-coach-bradshaw-remembered/article_617dc080-b9c9-11ec-af9a-672b98d43aff.html

**Memorial Service for Arnold Bradshaw Geneva Middle School Auditorium July 9, 2022 at 9:15 AM (Doors open at 8:30 AM)

It will last about an hour, then tennis will begin at the tennis courts. Casual attire is okay because of tennis activities for the day.

It's the Geneva Tennis Legacy weekend celebrating Geneva Tennis that Coach Bradshaw started in 1966 - with an amazingly successful record until retirement in 1993. The coaches that have continued the teams will be honored as well this weekend.