Farewell to Orlando Salomoni, inventor of tennis in the valley

Sondrio – Mourning in the world of tennis and sports in Valtellina : Orlando Salomoni passed away on Thursday at the age of 85. The historic teacher and president of the Tennisporting Club Sondrio was a man of sport who raised generations of tennis players from Sondrio, thanks to an infinite passion for tennis and the ability to empathize with boys and girls. Orlando, or Orly, as everyone called him, was the driving force of the Tennisporting Club of Sondrio since the distant 60s, when he had the merit of bringing the federal method to the province. In his youth he had also been an excellent footballer, wearing the Sondrio jersey. He was the first teacher in the province with the qualification acquired since 1964 and in 1975 he was awarded by Panathlon Sondrio.

At Tc Sondrio it was a real institution , but Salomoni was the first to get his hands dirty, it was not difficult to find him cutting the grass, preparing the clay courts, working hard to make the Sondrio club increasingly welcoming. A club that over the years he has helped to grow, with many covered courts essential for the development of the movement, and which organizes high-level events, such as the Challenge Apt tournament, with professional players, and many youth tournaments.

Orlando Salomoni loved working with young people and all the people of Sondrio, and not only, who played tennis, owe something to this man capable of bringing, in addition to the undoubted technical qualities, also human qualities of the highest caliber and of teaching his students how to behave on and off the court. Now the entire world of sport in the province of Sondrio has lost a pillar . Orlando's work will be carried on, together with all the collaborators of the Sondrio tennis club, by his son Maurizio (known to all as Mao) who, in a moment of deep pain, wants to remember him like this: "You were and will always be my hero...". Salomoni leaves behind his beloved wife Ida, his son Mao with Amanda, his granddaughters Michela and Martina, his in-laws Matteo and Irma with Andrea. The funeral will be held today at 3 pm in the Collegiata church, while the rosary will be recited at 11 am in the church of San Rocco.

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