Arlene Clark, known to many in Vancouver as “Grandma Tennis,” passed away on July 16. She was 88.
The Arlene Clark Scholarship Fund has aided many young tennis players at the Vancouver Tennis Center, and on June 9, VTC’s Court 5 — the most prominent court at the facility — was renamed in Clark’s honor. She was in attendance for the dedication.
“For over 50 years, Arlene served as a teacher, coach and mentor — shaping generations of players with her passion, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the game,” Pacific Northwest Tennis Centers posted Thursday on Instagram.
According to her obituary published Wednesday online at legacy.com, Clark was born on May 14, 1937, in Tacoma. She married Calvin Clark in 1960, and they eventually settled in Vancouver in 1968.
Clark taught chemistry and microbiology at Clark College while coaching and playing tennis at VTC. In her 72 years of tennis, she coached at Hudson’s Bay High School, Clark College and one year at the University of Portland.
As reported in The Columbian following the VTC tennis court dedication in June, Clark’s most significant impact began in 2000, when she started the effort that would become the scholarship fund that would help young players keep playing.
Clark told The Columbian in 2018 that attending college on scholarships in a time when society didn’t expect women to have such interests (she got her bachelor’s and master’s degrees) made her consider her own scholarship to help others.
“I kept thinking, ‘someday I want to give back because this has really changed my life,’ ” she said.
From humble beginnings, the fund grew and more than $50,000 in scholarship funds were distributed from 2006 through 2018.
The scholarship program has skyrocketed since 2019, when it became affiliated with the USTA Pacific Northwest section. In 2024, more than $30,000 was distributed to 219 youths who otherwise might not have given tennis a try.
“We are proud to carry this legacy forward at USTA Pacific Northwest,” PNW Tennis Centers posted on Instagram. “Arlene’s impact lives on in every player she inspired and every opportunity the scholarship provides.”
As Kevin Young, who served as Director of Tennis at Vancouver Tennis Center from 1996 to 2007, said back in June: “Arlene is a Clark County hero and VTC legend. Her tireless amazing contributions to kids, to tennis in general and to this place are immeasurable.”
Arlene is survived by her husband of 65 years Calvin, son Brian, daughter Debbie, and their families.
In lieu of flowers, consider donations through the USTA-PNW for the Arlene Clark Scholarships for Youth at Vancouver Tennis Center.
A celebration of life event will be held from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, 7801 N.E. Greenwood Drive.
