Honoring Legends
Who have passed on - May they rest in peace
GVTTC is grateful for the tireless commitment to the club and game of these foundational members who are now terribly missed. They're legend lives on by remembering ...
Mike Brown
1957 - 2024
Mike Brown was born with cerebral palsy which severely impeded his mobility but you would never know it based on his game. He was a fierce competitor and someone that on paper should not have been as good as he was. Mike defied all odds in everything he did. His game was one of the toughest around with high speed of play, wide angles and filled with deception. He would contort his body in such a way where you’d think the ball was going one way and you’d stand there and wonder how it went the opposite way. Many of us joked about how they carbon dated his rubber back to before the caveman where it was so dead it would create a spin never invented before. Balls would end up in the net that looked topspin but that rubber would just create ball movement that isn’t possible. The biggest victim to Mike Brown’s game were the out of town players that had no idea of what they were in for. The most notable was a match in Erie PA against a 2350 USATT player named Chip Coulter. Mike frustrated Chip so much that at one point in the match, Chip looked over at friends he knows and shrugged his shoulders indicating he had no idea what to do. Mike Brown won that match and of course, he reminded us of that every chance he could and we loved it. Mike remembered everything and always let you know when he beat you. When Mike started talking during a match you knew he was locked in and your match fight was going to get even tougher. Local GVTTC members especially loved when a new player would come to our club because Mike would eyeball them and look over at members and say giggling, “I’m going to crush them.” Normally, he would and he’d leave the opponent speechless. Mike was a consistent 2 man in the Classic League but last year he achieved the 1 man status for the first time which was an accomplishment that had so many shaking their heads as to how proud we all were for what he’d accomplished. Understand this means he was a top 12 player in Rochester as a 1 man in Classic League. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! It’s safe to say that many of us got so used to how good Mike was with his ailments that we lost connection with how incredible he really was to get to that level with a handicap.
In 2015, Mike Brown became one of the top handicap players in his category TT6 in the nation qualifying for the US National Paralympic team. He was one of the best in the country and we are honored to have had him at GVTTC.
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Mike was known throughout Rochester for his Basketball game. Most have never seen him play but often times we'd hear some of the basketball players walk by and praise Mike for what they know of him. It made many curious but I’d imagine it’s the same amazement that we all have in his table tennis game. Here is a nice video that showcases a bit more on this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=464ReyJu7KY
"My matches with Mike were a war. He was the only player in the club that made me abandon every aspect of my natural game in order to beat him. I can say with confidence that if I played him the way I play all of you, I would get crushed. I had a “Mike Brown” strategy that worked and it was only used on him. Make no mistake, this didn’t mean the match was easy for me, it was simply the only way I had a chance to win. Even then, he beat me last year. Knowing how remarkable Mike could play with his ailments, I would continuously ask myself, How good he would have been had he had our physical capabilities? The answer is scary!" ~ Andre Maronian
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"Mike's stamina is second to none! He's a great competitor & I had great funs playing against him all these years. He will truly be missed!" ~Peter Yu
"Mike had an uncanny ability to know my potential more than me and his investment in my success was heartwarming. His advise during tournaments and games were quite helpful. His disappointment when I didn’t play as well as I could motivated me and his appreciation, which was rare, made me feel proud. This news is shocking and may Mike rest in peace." ~Rupa Kalahasthi
"When I first met Mike a long long time ago (decades) I thought to myself well here is at least one easy win today! Who else will I have to play? Very quickly I learned not so fast. There he was on the other side of the table, right in the middle of the table, belly close to the table starring at me. Then I tried a serve and found that the next step was to go pick up the ball behind me somewhere. And then there was that little stare again. Well I had my wins and loses over the years none of them were ever easy. What a tomcat over there this just cant be.
Later years I became a one man and had to go in to the team selection meeting where you get to select team members. A lot of players did not want to pick Mike because of doubles and the movement needed to win. I always picked Mike as my two man and when I would come out of the meeting there was Mike looking with high energy right at me. I would make eye contact and smile and said: Mike I was able to get you. And I will never forget his smile and nodding of his head he was like a schoolkid who just won some award. He was so happy. And when we played through the season yes we mostly lost in doubles but now and again we would upset a really great team and leave them in awe. Mike would somehow move his body just enough out of the way of their intended bodyshot allowing me to return it and then he would lean back into position and simply play wac a maw with their return.
He was a true fighter and warrior. He used to tell everyone including me that the main reason that I picked him as my 2 man is because I wouldn’t have to play him during the year. Well that certainly was true I would acknowledge to Mike. He loved trash talking in a good way trying to get into the opponents heads before taking them out with the actual match. Many times it worked and I still chuckle about the memories. He loved the game itself, the competition, the strategy, the planning, the execution and every shot, the speed, and certainly in Mikes’ case the misdirection of shots. More than once I almost fell over going to a corner to cover his shot and Mike would somehow (don’t ask me how) hit the ball to the other corner. One hand on the floor so I didn’t fall over then crashing into a barrier as I looked for the ball there it went to the other side. I would straighten the barriers and Mike would make eye contact and just have a little smile. I will never forget my teammate Mike Brown." ~Wayne Carney
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"Mike Brown was an icon, great competitor, a good friend and had a good heart. He was a helluva guy one of a kind and a dear dear friend of mine."
~Kevin Johnson
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"May Mike rest in peace and love—his smile will forever bloom in our hearts, a timeless reminder of his joy and kindness." ~Ding Yun
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"Mike and I always had friendly banter but I knew I had to focus when playing him since his cat like reflexes would overpower me quickly if my play was off. And if you made him upset —- forget about it —- he would attain 2000 instantaneously and crush you. His ability to play at such a high level with his disability was astonishing and will always leave me in amazement. He will certainly be missed." ~Jay Gelb
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"I am also saddened to hear about Mike.
I have friends here in Florida that knew Mike and really respected his ability as player. His passion for the game was contagious. He will be missed!" ~Mike Friedler
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"It's a huge loss for the club and a very sad day. Mike's indomitable spirit, his example of overcoming whatever obstacles life and table tennis threw at him will forever remain with me." ~Berl Stein
Don Young
1937 - 2023
Don played a significant role in growing the GVTTC in the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. He served on the EC and was a board member. As a player he was a pillar 1 man for many years in the Classic League with a USATT rating that was always 1800+. He even won Gold at the World Senior Games for his age bracket defeating a Russian opponent in the finals. His game consisted of smooth forehand and the deadly Phantom long pips on the backhand. Everyone dreaded playing Don because he mastered the rubber that made everyone miss …. Phantom … why? Just because. That backhand phantom block was a nightmare for most and if that wasn’t enough, you play to the forehand and he had a strong forehand loop followed by smash. He was solid both ways and you knew you were in for a long night if he was a match.
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"Personally, as a young player focusing on my own matches I would look forward to watching those battle matches between the pips or anti player bunch. Don and that cast of players would always entertain and seemed like always ended in a deuce in the 5th showdown that could be called on expedite rule at times …. LOL. It was a different game using defense to setup the offense. Don versus people like Bob Brickell, Robert Maronian, Chris Olan Sr, Walt Soffer, Folk Hioe, Tom Wood and John VanDuerson would always yield the longest yet intense chess matches that I miss watching to this day." ~Andre Maronian
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“I knew Don from GVTTC, only, but found him to be a well read individual and a fierce competitor. When we played, his 15 foot off the table serve gave me fits at times. He was honest and had a lot of love for the sport. He was a man of integrity and a rule follower. RIP Don.” ~ Jay Gelb
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"Don was always the ultimate gentleman, at the table and away from it. He liked music, and we saw him more than once at RPO concerts after he retired from table tennis." ~Berl Stein
Pauli Orr
1957 - 2016
Pauli left us way earlier than deserved and was a regular at GVTTC in the 2000's all the way up to near his passing. He was the most humble and kind person you could interact with who was fun to joke with and he loved the game. He was a consistent #2 man in the Classic League who was a true benchmark opponent for anyone looking to better their game. Although he struggled with MS, you would never had known it while watching him play. In fact, it was the moment where we're sure he felt his medical issues weren't in the way.
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"Pauli was a wonderful man and a great table tennis player. He had that gift of "talent" that is not given to many. He was also one of the most humble and nice men that we had in our club. He loved table tennis, even with his latest medical issues stopping him from playing in the classic league and open play. We saw him at the club several times over the last few weeks, still hammering away at his opponents!" ~Ray Mack
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"As a player, I would DREAD when it was Pauli week because he was a fierce competitor. I needed 20 gatorades for that match and even when I won, I would joke with others saying that I felt like I lost. Many times, in the middle of a 7 game battle royal, I would look over to another teammate and say …. “He’s not human!!!” Pauli had this way of disrespecting your best shots that could work against someone else. As an example, Pauli missed the class called “how to chop a strong chop” because he would just smack through it like you did nothing. When I would try a heavy chop, I would imagine him thinking “Foolish human … don’t you know this is nothing to me?!?”. This would be followed by a flat hit smash that I’m convinced removed letters off of the ball. Pauli would push me into defense mode quickly no matter what I tried to do and I was always so impressed with his game." ~Andre Maronian
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“I'll always be very appreciative and grateful for Saturday open play with Pauli ... his actions and words helped me a lot in my efforts to better my game, and his patience with a player of my lesser level was humbling. Hopefully he passed knowing what impact he had on people.” ~ Ed Bizari
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"Pauli is truly a gentleman both on & off the court. He has so much for us to learn from. He is a kind & gentle giant. Will miss him a lot." ~Peter Yu
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When you play against Pauli either at the Saturday morning practices or Tuesday night leagues, it is nothing to do with winning or losing that match. You basically get the enjoyment of playing against a true gentleman and a classy player. Not just me but for all the GVTTC community, he has always been a passionate player even during his recent medical issues. I will definitely miss Pauli a lot." ~Aydin Aykanat
Bob Brickell
1926 - 2014
Bob can easily be in the discussion for being one of the most important and influential members in GVTTC history. Everyone around the US knew his name and accomplishments as a Junior, Adult and Senior. If you travelled to a tournament and mentioned you're from Rochester, NY, you couldn't finish that conversation without hearing a story about Bob Brickell. He served on the GVTTC board for many years and was know
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How does one attach a value to the years of contributions made by Robert "Bob" Brickell... to the development, growth, and status of table tennis in the Rochester area? Just what was it about Bob Brickell - other than his eight decade involvement in the sport - that made him so special, and how did such a great contributor achieve so much success and help so many? It is really something that can't be quantified in titles or trophies, though there were many. Nor can we re-live his greatest accomplishments in any way by browsing through old scrapbooks filled with headlines featuring our local table tennis legends.
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Not only did he play but for many years was the primary supplier of table tennis equipment including manufacturing his own blades known as the "Brick Bat". His game was the most brutal challenge in Rochester as he used different pips rubber on both sides and he had the ability to flip mid point forehand/backhand.
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Accomplishments include many USATT top finishes as a Junior and Senior. He won is first title as a 15 year old in 1941 and continued winning title over his 8 decades in the sport. We found him ranked #14 in the US for over 60 year old players in 1995. As we get more, we'll update this area.
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"Bob was a mentor and took all juniors under his wing. He coached me in the early years and was the most respected player in Rochester for his personality, stories and game. Playing him was as unique a matchup I'd ever had to deal with and yes .... the KING of nets and edges! I loved watching my dad Robert Maronian for the many years in those long long battles." ~Andre Maronian
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“Bob was a humble person, giving of himself to others, and respected by his many students and friends, his reward was the gratitude he received from others. A talented athlete himself with a degree in physical education from Brockport, he could have coached talented athletes in a number of sports, but, instead, dedicated himself to teaching and recognizing all students, especially those most physically challenged, rather than catering to those most gifted. The attention and respect he gave to the dignity of more challenged students, and his ability to make them believe in themselves, was perhaps his lasting legacy as a teacher. .” ~ Dave Hunt
USA Ranking - 1995
