In memoriam

Edward P. Krysa, 86, a retired Army veteran and noted tennis instructor, who for years , voluntarily administered a summer tennis program in Hudson, died on February 1, 2011 at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. For the last ten years, he had resided at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington. For 30 years after his military service retirement, Krysa spent his summers in Hudson, offering free tennis lessons to all children at Riverside Park. His former students numbered in the hundreds. Many became proficient enough to obtain college scholarships and subsequent success in tennis. He assisted in coaching several Hudson tennis teams to numerous Central Massachusetts titles and one Massachusetts state crown. He was an outstanding teacher and motivator who won the respect of all his students. On April 14 2007, Hudson recognized his tireless and productive efforts by dedicating the Riverside Tennis Courts to Ed Krysa. On November 23, 2001, Krysa was inducted into the Hudson High School Athletic Hall of Fame. During yearly visits with his brother s family in Alexandria, Va., Krysa regularly gave free tennis lessons to local players and assisted coaching high school tennis teams as well. Krysa, a World War II veteran, was born in Millville, MA, the 4th son of the late John and Katherine (Tarka) Krysa. He attended local primary schools and graduated from Hudson High School in 1942. He entered the Army in January of 1943, trained in Georgia and New Zealand, and, in the Fall of 1943,saw extensive combat with the 169th Infantry Division in the battle to drive the Japanese from New Guinea. He subsequently served in the Invasion of the Philippines and the recapture of Manila. Krysa also saw duty with the Occupation Forces in Japan, where he contracted a severe case of malaria. In early l945, he was discharged. Krysa returned to Army Service in 1948, where he served for 18 years until his retirement in June of 1966. His service included tours in the United States as well as in Panama, Korea, Japan and Hawaii. Before his retirement, he attained the highest enlisted rank, that of Sergeant Major (E-9). He was the first member of the Army to receive that rank, after it was established. While Krysa was in the Army, he taught himself to play tennis and became a serious student of the game. He played on various post tennis teams and was very successful in many military and civilian tournaments. His last duty post was Fort DeRussy, Hawaii. While serving there, he became a regular player at the Diamond Head Tennis Center on Waikiki Beach. Upon his retirement from the Army, he spent the next 30 years as a tennis instructor at the Diamond Head Center during the winter months. During that time, his services were very much in demand. He hit routinely with players on the professional circuit and gave instructions to many celebrities, such as Kathryn and Arthur Murray of dance fame and Seiji Ozawa, Director of the Vienna State Opera and one time Director of the Boston Symphony. He is survived by his brother, Stanley Krysa, an attorney in Alexandria, VA, 15 nieces and nephews, 28 grand nieces and nephews, and 19 great grand nieces and nephews. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.