Tennis tourney raises funds for Alzheimer’s research
Joe Winslett, a longtime Cape Coral tennis fixture dating back to the days of the Cape Coral Yacht Club’s tennis center, lost his battle with Alzheimer’s in 2024.
On Saturday, The Courts Cape Coral celebrated its Second Annual Joe Winslett Tennis Tournament in his honor.
Eighty-eight players took part in the tournament that was founded to benefit the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and to remember Winslett, all while raising awareness of the battle against the disease.
Lisa Zuk, general manager of The Courts Cape Coral, said the tournament is the highlight tennis event of the year at the venue.
“It’s so important really because of Joe Winslett,” she said. “He was a member, great guy, very popular, well loved. And of course his wife, Venita, and the tremendous amount of effort she has put into this tournament. And of course the cause — so many people have it, my grandfather had it. It’s tough to watch somebody go through that. So this tournament has a very sentimental feeling.”
Many of the players in the tournament knew Winslett dating back to his days playing at the Yacht Club. Some came from other tennis clubs in Lee County to show their support for not only him, but to support Alzheimer’s research.
Angelo Gentile was one of Winslett’s closest friends and tennis partners. He believes Winslett would be touched to see such an event in his honor.
“This would have meant everything to him,” said Gentile. “He would love everyone coming out to play tennis, his friends, having a good time in his name. I knew Joe for about 10 years. Through tennis, I met one of my best friends. This event shows how much Joe meant to everybody. Just the collaborative effort of everybody involved to get this together to play tennis for Joe says all you need to know about him.”
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 116,022 Americans lose their life to Alzheimer’s each year, making it the sixth leading cause of death in the United States overall and fifth leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older.
The CDC also estimates between 500,000 and 1 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s yearly.
Organizers of the tournament were confident money raised this year will surpass last year’s total. A raffle of prizes donated by local vendors raised more than $7,000. A donation from The Courts Cape Coral will be included with the money used to help fund research for a cure to Alzheimer’s.
Venita Winslett, his wife and a club member, is a driving force behind the event. Her tireless efforts have made the event grow year over year. The turnout and involvement of volunteers shows her how much people care and want to help.
“It has been quite an emotional roller coaster today,” she said. “We had (bad) weather, all that went on with that, yet so many people showed up to support Joe (and) to support the event from a great tennis community.”
Others who knew Winslett talked about how joyful he was, how humble an opponent he was, despite a strong desire to win. Those who attended the event said he would be deeply touched and honored that the work to cure Alzheimer’s would in a small way carry his name.
“Joe would be absolutely thrilled,” Venita Winslett said. “I am sure he is smiling down now, looking at everybody and wishing he could be here with us, but glad that everybody is carrying on to do what he loved to do so much, play tennis”
Zuk says The Courts Cape Coral will continue the event year after year.
“Today was a challenge with the weather. People were troopers, everybody showed up and waited out a two and a half hour delay,” she said. “It just shows how important this event is to our tennis community.”