Paul Curtin

Paul Curtin
April 11, 1954 - December 4, 2020
New York, New York - Paul Scott Curtin was born on April 11, 1954 in San Francisco, California to Victor Thomas and Mary Louise Scott Curtin. He grew up in Miami, Florida, with his sisters Jane, Gail, Anne and Joy. His father, Victor, was instrumental in founding the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute where he spent his career as an esteemed ophthalmologist.
Growing up, Paul developed a keen interest in tennis, playing daily at the Royal Palm Tennis Club, along with other members of his family. In high school, he attended the Ransom Everglades School, where he played on the varsity tennis team which won the state championships in 1972. Paul enjoyed playing competitive junior tennis in Florida throughout his childhood years achieving state rankings in the 16- and 18-and-unders. He took a job sweeping the tennis courts nightly at Royal Palm to help pay for his school tuition costs. Here he began his lifetime habit of practicing what became his excellent "lefty serve."
Paul attended Harvard College for one year and then completed his bachelor's degree in American History in 1978 at the University of Miami where he played on the Men's Tennis Team. After college, Paul briefly played the men's satellite circuit before settling down in New York City to teach tennis, first at the Midtown Tennis Center and later at the East River Tennis Club.
In 2003, Paul's colleague and good friend, Paul Campbell, recruited him to direct the Junior Development Program at the Prospect Park Tennis Center in Brooklyn, New York. There Paul and Paul worked closely together, along with the leadership of the Prospect Park Alliance, to realize their vision of a vibrant, community-based tennis center offering a wide variety of programs and opportunities to children and adults alike. Working in Brooklyn marked an important shift in Paul's career. Although he continued to coach adults, he worked tirelessly to develop a thriving junior development program which would become his crowning achievement. Paul demonstrated unparalleled sensitivity in his work with the children and their parents. He built the the Prospect Park Junior Development Program from the ground up. The program operates year-round and serves over 1,000 children annually, many of whom receive scholarships. Paul's dedication and expertise made him a legend within the diverse community of Brooklyn youth tennis. His legacy will live on in every child and adult and whose development he selflessly fostered.
In recent years, Paul also volunteered his time to the nonprofit organization, "Kids on the Ball," which aims to "teach life lessons through tennis" to disadvantaged youth. Paul traveled with the organization to Cuba and New Orleans and volunteered several days per week this summer at the organization's flagship program in Burlington, Vermont, where Paul retreated to spend time with his girlfriend, Mary, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
Most memorable about Paul, however, are the dimensions of his character and personality that shown through both on the tennis court and off. Paul was warm, engaging, personable, funny, kind, graceful, discerning, and intelligent. In short, he was "great company." His genuine interest in others naturally drew them to him and generated many strong friendships, close family ties, and an abundance of mutually enjoyable relationships of all sorts. In addition to tennis and people, Paul loved music, physical exercise/athletics, humor, good food, beer, cultural pursuits, the great outdoors, and playing with dogs. He will be missed in ways that elude expression in words.
Paul died on December 4, 2020 at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, where he was taken following a cardiac arrest that occurred shortly after his arrival at work at the Tennis Center on November 21. During his two-week hospitalization, he never regained consciousness. Paul is survived by his sisters, Jane Curtin of Westchester, New York; Gail Curtin of Miami, Florida; and Joy Curtin Tompkins of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as his girlfriend/life partner, Mary G. Kirkpatrick of Burlington, Vermont. Paul was predeceased by his sister, Anne, and his parents, Victor and Mary Lou.
Memorial services to celebrate Paul's life will be announced by the family at a later date (presumably post-pandemic). A Junior Tennis Scholarship Fund honoring his legacy has been set up in his name by the Prospect Park Alliance. Donations may be made to the fund online at: Donate.prospectpark.org/paulcurtin.