Professional Tennis Player. Born Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis the son of Lithuanian immigrants in Brooklyn New York. He grew up in Howard Beach, Queens. He attended Columbia University were he was an All-American. During his career, Gerulaitis won 24 top-level singles titles and 8 doubles titles. He ranked in the Top 10 from 1977 to 1982. His career-high world singles ranking was Number 3 in 1978. He played for the Pittsburgh Triangles in World Team Tennis in 1975. He won Wimbledon Men's Doubles in 1975 with Sandy Mayer, the Australian Open in 1977, and was a member of the United States team which won the Davis Cup in 1979. He founded the Vitas Gerulaitis Youth Foundation which supports the Vitas Gerulaitis Youth Tennis Center in Queens. Gerulaitis was known for his exceptionally fast hands at the net and his ability to cover the court with amazing speed. Gerulaitis is considered one of the great "might-have beens" of tennis. He is often remembered as one the greatest players to watch on court, and a gentleman off court. While visiting a friend's home in Southampton, Long Island, carbon monoxide from a swimming-pool heater seeped into Gerulaitis’ room in the guesthouse through the air-conditioning system. He died in his sleep of carbon monoxide poisoning. He was interred at Saint Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York where Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg numbered among his pallbearers. The Vitas Gerulaitis "For the Love of Tennis" Award is still presented annually by the United States Tennis Association of the Eastern Long Island Region.
Professional Tennis Player. Born Vytautas Kevin Gerulaitis the son of Lithuanian immigrants in Brooklyn New York. He grew up in Howard Beach, Queens. He attended Columbia University were he was an All-American. During his career, Gerulaitis won 24 top-level singles titles and 8 doubles titles. He ranked in the Top 10 from 1977 to 1982. His career-high world singles ranking was Number 3 in 1978. He played for the Pittsburgh Triangles in World Team Tennis in 1975. He won Wimbledon Men's Doubles in 1975 with Sandy Mayer, the Australian Open in 1977, and was a member of the United States team which won the Davis Cup in 1979. He founded the Vitas Gerulaitis Youth Foundation which supports the Vitas Gerulaitis Youth Tennis Center in Queens. Gerulaitis was known for his exceptionally fast hands at the net and his ability to cover the court with amazing speed. Gerulaitis is considered one of the great "might-have beens" of tennis. He is often remembered as one the greatest players to watch on court, and a gentleman off court. While visiting a friend's home in Southampton, Long Island, carbon monoxide from a swimming-pool heater seeped into Gerulaitis’ room in the guesthouse through the air-conditioning system. He died in his sleep of carbon monoxide poisoning. He was interred at Saint Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York where Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg numbered among his pallbearers. The Vitas Gerulaitis "For the Love of Tennis" Award is still presented annually by the United States Tennis Association of the Eastern Long Island Region.
Bio by: Iola
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GERULAITIS
BELOVED SON & BROTHER
VITAS
JULY 26, 1954 SEPT. 17, 1994
YOU REACHED MANY HEARTS
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