Tennis Courts Named for Justine Butler

The old high school tennis courts have finally been given a name: the Justine H. Butler Tennis Courts, honoring the long-time Ridgefielder and "trailblazing local athlete."

"I still can't believe it has happened," said Butler, after First Selectman Rudy Marconi read aloud her long list of accomplishments and handed her a proclamation of appreciation from the town on Wednesday evening. Parks and Recreation Director Paul Roche was also there to honor her.

Butler was the first female physical education teacher in the Wilton Public School system, hired in 1957. Ten years later, noticing a growing interest in tennis, she began teaching the sport to students at the Ridgefield Parks and Recreation Department and continued to do so for 32 years, until 1998. During that time, she also taught in Redding and in Lewisboro, NY.

In addition to Butler's devotion to teaching, she was also a celebrated singles player, ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. Tennis Association from 1968-81. She has been ranked number one in singles in the 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, and 65 New England divisions and number one in doubles in the 40-65 New England division. In 2001, she was inducted into the New England Tennis Hall of Fame. 

Ceremony attendee Lore Wolf said she bonded with her daughter over Butler's tennis lessons. The two of them took lessons from the 1980s to the 1990s, and Wolf praised Butler for being "generous with her time and generous with her knowledge."

Butler said she was "delighted and proud" to have town tennis courts named after her, quickly adding, "If not me, who?"