On October 15th, the Classic Turf family went to the grounds of Rumsey Hall School in Washington, Connecticut to attend Founders Day Weekend, celebrating 122 years of the independent boarding and day school. The weekend was attended by current students and their parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and marked by discussion panels, class reunions, athletic events, and many different social gatherings.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon surrounded by family, friends, and alumni holding cold glasses of champagne, with the familiar colors of autumn in New England as the backdrop, Classic Turf VP John Eren unveiled a new addition to Rumsey’s grounds: The Eren Family Tennis Center – four state-of-the-art post tension tennis courts to be enjoyed by the students and faculty of Rumsey for years to come. The courts were donated to the school by the Eren family and John acknowledges that his connections to Rumsey made the donation important to the Eren’s and Classic Turf.
“Rumsey has been a part of my life since I was in the 3rd grade,” says John. “It continues to play an important role in my family’s life today.”
The connections to Rumsey run deep at Classic Turf. John is a Rumsey Hall Alumni, graduating in 1997, and is a member of the Rumsey Board of Trustees. Kate Eren, Classic Turf’s Director of Finance, is the treasurer of the Rumsey Circle Parent Association, and John and Kate’s daughters, Avery and Alexandra, attend Rumsey. Director of Sales Ryan Conroy is also alumni of the school. The picturesque scene, including the foliage and the extended Classic Turf family standing alongside the blue sign and white lettering announcing “The Eren Family Tennis Center” brings about feelings of family, connection, and legacy.
“I have to thank my parents,” John says, noting that their beliefs in the importance of education, of hard work and dedication to a goal, of love and support, and sharing with others the fruits of success, were instilled in him from a young age.
“My parents worked hard to provide me with the best education in the Northeast and have continued pushing me to keep learning and evolving,” John says. “My father (Classic Turf’s President, Tumer H. Eren) founded Classic Turf over 40 years ago, and it’s from his hard work and dedication to the sports industry that we are able to donate this amazing tennis facility today.”
Beyond the new outdoor facility pictured here, Classic Turf installed its patented Sports Surface at Rumsey Hall School in the early 2000’s, recently returning to the school to re-coat the indoor courts for the first time. Athletics is an important part of the tradition of Rumsey, and Classic Turf and the Eren family were honored to contribute to the Blue Dog Spirit – a belief in effort, courage, and perseverance.
According to John, “With the new outdoor courts and the refurbished indoor courts, I can say without question that Rumsey now has one of the best tennis facilities out of all the private schools in New England.”
“It has been an honor contributing to the school,” says John. “Rumsey has been such a big part of my life for such a long time, and it is our hope that these facilities will help Rumsey promote and obtain future students for years to come.”
