Leif Shiras – Rowayton Kid
from Crick
I’m sure no one remembers Leif Shiras as a RowaytonKid except for me. Even Wikipedia has it wrong (born in Norwalk). The Shiras’s lived just off of Sammis Street a block or two west of the Chamberlins. His father George was a pretty good country club level tennis player who would compete with Jack Stewart to play in the finals against Ward Chamberlin who always won in the 1950s and early 60s. George was always willing to have a match with me and Mike Newman, and I think fondly of him for that.
I can remember going over to George’s house to rally him for tennis. There was Leif, a toddler born in August 1959 and the same age as my brother Andy who was born two weeks earlier.
I can remember hearing about Leif when he was playing at Princeton (I may be wrong about Princeton; possibly Michigan) where he was an All American (because I followed colleagate tennis). Later I took notice of Leif because he was a very good grass court player and who got to the 4th round at Wimbledon in 1989. He was ranked in the top 50 in the world then.
Leif is now one of the lead commentators on the Tennis Channel where I routinely watch the early rounds of the French, Wimbledon, and US Opens and the only place where you can watch the Australian Open.
I have a lot of great tennis memories also. In my senior year at Bethany College 
we won the conference championship with all of us making the all-conference team. We played teams like Western Reserve, Case, Alleghany College, John Carroll, Washington and Jefferson, and University of Pittsburgh. In 1962, officials questioned whether I should be allowed to play in a tournament at the Wheeling West Virginia Country Club because I was ‘black’ (I had just gotten back from Florida on Spring Break). Click the picture and note the racket I was using; third from the left, front row.
I often like to brag about the fact that I beat Paul Gerkin who rose to #15 in the world – but then I would have to add that Paul was only 10 years old and I was nearly 18. Paul was good enough at that time to beat the Pro at Roton Point on that same day.
I’m not sure what year it was (1959-1961) when John Sharnik (Pam and Brons step-father) invited Jackie Robinson to play in a exhibition at Bayley Beach. I was asked to hit with Jackie before the match. I can remember stoic Jackie at the other end of the court returning everything I hit his way.
I remember Talbert too. I’m not sure why Jackie Robinson came by but the experience was unforgetable and I’m sure your dad was involved. Jackie lived in Greenwich.
Hi, Dirk. I am “into” drums only as a fan of Jazz and Marching Bands (not a good mix). And, Crick, I’ll take your word about Jackie Robinson, though I have no recollection of him, or apparently, the event. But, sometimes I would avoid some of these things that interfered with swimming, sailing, or baseball…
I do remember the Talbert exhibition match with Ward and some others, one was our leading Junior whose name escapes me. It WAS absolutely wonderful growing up in Rowayton back then. Thank you for the memories and the dialogue that goes on here.
Pete
Hi Pete, Are you still into drums?
Hi Pete, It was definitely Jackie Robinson. I don’t recall exactly when this was. It must have been between 1958 and 1961. Jackie was more like a country club player. I don’t think I could have hit with Talbert. I remember your father well also.
Was it Jackie Robinson or Bill Talbert? I didn’t realize we had any direct links to Mr. Robinson but my father had written a book with Mr. Talbert. I remember the exhibition match very well.
Regards,
Pete Sharnik
Kathy, I didn’t know Robin but that’s where George’s house was, near the corner of Sammis and Farm Creek. Incidently, I can remember when there were no houses between Sammis and McKinley Ave (except alone Highland Ave down to Sammis. The Amons also lived in that section.
Hi Crick, I knew a Robin Shiras on Farm Creek Road, my age, born in 1954. I’m wondering if its any relation? She moved when we were in 5th or 6th grade but she was a great kid and I was sad when she left. I love reading all of your stories on this site! I have found a few new pics of my family and will send them on when I’m finished mothering an 8 week old puppy that is putting me through the tests!
Kathy
Thanks Lyn. Every year I would look forward to the annual Bayley Beach tennis tournament usually in the first week of September and cuminating on Labor Day. Sometimes I was lucky enough to get far enough to play Ward. I was greatly out matched so I would just go for broke and hit hard. Ward was always generous enough to allow me to win 2 or 3 games a set. But with George, he would allow him only one token game beating him 6-0,6-1.
George left Rowayton in the early-mid 60s moving his family to Shorewood Wisconsin.
Hi Crick–
Thanks so much for all of these great mentions of my father and his glory days of Rowayton tennis. I was just asking him the other day about some of these matches and he mentioned George. He will be thrilled to know about Lief as he is a big fan of the Tennis Channel.
I can’t believe that you knew we lived on Sammis Street before moving to Wilson Point!
My father, at 89, is going strong, despite a stroke last year. I’m hoping he will write something about his memories of those matches at Bayley Beach and post them here. I’ll encourage it!
Take care,
Lyn