Dick Seils’ resume is surprisingly full, despite being retired since 1998.
After teaching middle school students for 30 years, he’s a volunteer at Red Cross and an usher at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Geva Theater and Nazareth College.
He teaches euchre classes to senior citizens at the Penfield Community Center and is active at the Jewish Community Center.
Now, he’s adding pickleball champ to his list.
According to the USA Pickleball Association, pickleball is North America’s fastest growing sport, although Seil, 69, admits that a year ago, he had never heard of it.
Playing his first game in March of 2011 after learning about pickleball from a friend, he soon became active in the sport.
His most recent success was at the New York Empire State Senior Games in June, where Seils competed his way to winning the silver medal in pickleball for mixed doubles, as well as shuffleboard for men’s singles.
But for him, winning wasn’t the tough part.
“The hardest job was to ask a woman how old she is,” Seils said, with a laugh.
Qualifying for the 70-74 age group, Seils had to find a female partner who could qualify to compete on his team. He found the solution at the Jewish Community Center in Rochester, where Mary Lou Teumer was playing when Seils asked her to be his teammate.
Luckily, she fit the requirements.
“The first thing that I thought was that he’s good and I’m old,” Teumer said. “He needed an old woman and I was available.”
But the two succeeded on the court despite not training long together. She describes the whole experience as fun, especially since she was working with a “good partner.”
The pair is planning to compete at the upcoming PickleFest III at Ontario Beach from July 13 to 15.
On the job, he works full-time teaching pickleball classes at the Penfield Community Center, among other odd jobs.
“I’ve never had an empty class yet,” he said.
Seils also offers handyman services in the area and volunteers as Santa at parties during the Christmas season.
For Seils, all the work simply comes down to helping others.
“I try to make everybody’s job easier.”
Dick Seils’ resume is surprisingly full, despite being retired since 1998.
After teaching middle school students for 30 years, he’s a volunteer at Red Cross and an usher at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Geva Theater and Nazareth College.
He teaches euchre classes to senior citizens at the Penfield Community Center and is active at the Jewish Community Center.
Now, he’s adding pickleball champ to his list.
According to the USA Pickleball Association, pickleball is North America’s fastest growing sport, although Seil, 69, admits that a year ago, he had never heard of it.
Playing his first game in March of 2011 after learning about pickleball from a friend, he soon became active in the sport.
His most recent success was at the New York Empire State Senior Games in June, where Seils competed his way to winning the silver medal in pickleball for mixed doubles, as well as shuffleboard for men’s singles.
But for him, winning wasn’t the tough part.
“The hardest job was to ask a woman how old she is,” Seils said, with a laugh.
Qualifying for the 70-74 age group, Seils had to find a female partner who could qualify to compete on his team. He found the solution at the Jewish Community Center in Rochester, where Mary Lou Teumer was playing when Seils asked her to be his teammate.
Luckily, she fit the requirements.
“The first thing that I thought was that he’s good and I’m old,” Teumer said. “He needed an old woman and I was available.”
But the two succeeded on the court despite not training long together. She describes the whole experience as fun, especially since she was working with a “good partner.”
The pair is planning to compete at the upcoming PickleFest III at Ontario Beach from July 13 to 15.
On the job, he works full-time teaching pickleball classes at the Penfield Community Center, among other odd jobs.
“I’ve never had an empty class yet,” he said.
Seils also offers handyman services in the area and volunteers as Santa at parties during the Christmas season.
For Seils, all the work simply comes down to helping others.
“I try to make everybody’s job easier.”
