Paul Cranis obit

Legendary Tennis Professional Paul “Tall Paul” Cranis Passes Away at Age 91

 He was not on the list.

Paul Cranis, the well-known tennis professional with roots in New York and a long tenure in Florida, has passed away at age 91. He is the father of Space Coast Office of Tourism Director Peter Cranis.

Cranis was known to his students as “tall Paul” and as the 6’4” lefty who had much success in the United States Tennis Association senior tennis circuit. He won many gold and silver balls in his time and played and ranked nationally in almost every age division from the 35s to the 70s.

Most recently, he helped his tennis team win the championship in their division in Palm Beach County.

Cranis started his tennis career in Brooklyn as a teenager in the 1950s, being trained by Phil Rubell (Don Rubell’s dad) in the parks of Brooklyn. He quickly got a reputation as a big serve-and-volleyer with a tough left-handed serve.

He joined the Army and was able to travel the world playing tennis, including competing in Wimbledon, the French Open, and many times in the US Open.

As he preceded the “money” era of tennis, he missed out on the opportunity to turn pro, but his love of tennis never waned. He competed hard in the senior divisions of the USTA, including being a runner-up in the US Open 35 and over tournament. And he never shied away from helping juniors out by running junior camps in the city. Some of the top players participated as juniors in his program, including John McEnroe, Vitas Gerulaitis, and Dick Stockton. In 2001, he was inducted into the Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame. He and his son Peter were the number 1 father/son team in Florida for a while.

Later in his career, he became a full-time tennis pro so he could do what he loved every day. He was a pro at a club in Gaithersburg, MD and at various clubs in the Boca Raton area.

Amazingly, he taught tennis until he was 84, even sweeping the clay courts and taking down the screens during storms. His love for the game lasted a lifetime, and his friendships and connections in the tennis world span far and wide.

He will be buried at the National Cemetery in Palm Beach County with military honors at a date to be named in the future. He leaves behind his wife, Victoria; children Peter, Christopher, and Whitney; daughter-in-laws Melissa and Katie; grandchildren Parker, Chapin, and Aiden; and niece Robin.