The OTA Thanks Donna Wood (nee Singer) for Her Legacy Gift

Donna relocated from Montreal to Burlington in 1993, where she soon became a very active member of the Burlington Tennis Club executive, including terms as vice president and president. Her 33 years as a flight attendant also made her a valuable volunteer at the Canadian Open (now the NBO, then the duMaurier Open). She was a thorough and orderly record-keeper, and we’re grateful to Tony Legault for passing along her archival material related to the club and the region.

Donna was a keen student of the game, making detailed notes about techniques learned in clinics as well as about her performance in matches. She’s described as “introspective, thoughtful, observant”, and also as “the little engine that could”. She was a lifelong learner in every way, passionate about books and gardening and about animal rescue as well as tennis.

In 2012, She underwent a 7-hour surgery which removed much of her liver. It was the beginning of a series of extreme health challenges, through which she persevered and continued to play tennis. In 2018, she was added to the wait-list for a liver transplant and became an outspoken advocate for organ donation.

Donna truly lived every hour of every day through to the end. She died at the age of 65 on December 18, 2021. Her legacy gift to the OTA reminds us of the power of passion, determination and perseverance… qualities she exemplified in every way. She wanted to pay forward to make her world a better place.

The staff and board of the Ontario Tennis Association are deeply grateful and honoured by the donation bestowed upon the organization by Donna.