In Remembrance

In Memory of Julie Roth

Julie Roth (pictured right)

July 3, 2024

Remembering Julie Roth  

By Jennifer Roth 

Longtime member of NWTO/NSWTA, Juliet, “Julie” Van Pelt Roth, 84, passed away on July 3, 2024 in Evanston, Illinois. Julie graduated from Evanston Township High School at the age of 16 and from Rollins College in 1960. During college, she was a member of the women’s tennis team, basketball team, and President of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.

Julie returned to Chicago after college to work for IBM where she met her husband of 46 years (on the tennis court), Ernest M. Roth. They were married from 1962 until Ernest’s death in 2008. Julie was married to Robert Hastings from 2019 until his passing in 2021. Julie is survived by her three children, Ernie (Mary), Jennifer, and Jim (Katy) and seven grandchildren.

Julie grew up playing many sports with her brother and friends, but tennis was her favorite because she enjoyed running. It remained a passion for more than 70 years. Long before Title IX, Julie starred as a nationally ranked junior player despite no organized high school sports for girls in Illinois and played in the Junior Wightman Cup.  She continued high-level competitive tennis through the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and club events for most of her adult life. Julie was twice a national champion teaming with daughter Jennifer to win USTA mother-daughter senior and super senior grass court titles in 2009 and earn a gold ball for each. She was a frequent Intersectional team member from the Midwest Section. She also gave back to the game locally, serving on the Board of the Chicago Tennis Patrons (now Serve and Return Chicago), captaining many tennis and paddle teams, and supporting racquet sports however she could. She is missed by her family, friends, and the tennis community.  

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