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Robert “Bob” Larson passed away on Feb. 17, 2025, in Eden Prairie, Minn., at the age of 93. A titan of tennis and a beloved figure, Bob’s life was defined by his unwavering dedication to the sport and the countless lives he touched with his warmth and vision.

Throughout his life, Bob poured his heart into promoting tennis, a sport he cherished for its grace and integrity, often noting, “It’s played by ladies and gentlemen.” He lived by a simple yet profound mantra: “In life, as in tennis, nothing happens until someone serves,” a reflection of his belief in taking action to spark change. With an infectious knack for brightening any room, Bob had a gift for making people smile, laugh, and feel uplifted—a talent that endeared him to all who knew him.

Born on August 31, 1931, in Minneapolis, Bob’s early years took him to Chicago’s south side with his parents, Verne W. and Edna I. Larson, where he graduated from Hyde Park High School. He attended Monmouth College before earning a BA in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Iowa. His career began as a buyer for Dayton’s Department Store (1953–1954), followed by military service at Fort Holabird, Maryland, where he trained as a Military Intelligence Specialist and earned an Honorable Discharge in 1956. Bob then thrived as a corporate bond salesman at firms like Midland Bank, E.F. Hutton, and A.G. Edwards, retiring from Piper Jaffray. Married to Jean for 50 years until her passing in 2010, Bob is survived by his son, Cort Larson, daughter, Cara (Mike) Terwilliger, and grandchildren, Charlie and Alice Terwilliger, all of Minneapolis.

Bob’s love for tennis blossomed into a remarkable publishing career, beginning with Tennis Midwest on December 23, 1976. His portfolio grew to include Bob Larson’s Daily Tennis News (now split into Men’s and Women’s Pro Tour News), Weekly Tennis News, and others like Tennis Newswire, Tennis Jobs, and Tennis Celebs. From print to email, Bob Larson Tennis—now led by Cort Larson in Minneapolis—remains a vital voice, delivering paid subscriptions to subscribers’ inboxes. Marking 30 years in 2006, Bob launched tennisnews.com, a global tennis news hub that topped search engines and drew 80,000 monthly visitors, a testament to his innovative spirit.

Bob was renowned for his “East Coast Office”—“Bob’s Bench”—just steps from the US Open Media Center in New York. For two weeks each year, it was his unofficial headquarters, still listed on Yelp as Flushing Meadows Park, Flushing, NY. Bob and Jean’s affection for California led them to purchasing a Tennis Villa at La Quinta Resort, 20 feet from the grass courts. When the Indian Wells Tennis Garden opened for the BNP Paribas Open, Bob established his “West Coast Office”—a bustling table outside the players’ lunchroom, where tennis insiders stopped to chat and connect.

A prolific journalist, Bob wrote weekly tennis columns for the Minneapolis Tribune, Skyway News, and Freeway News, and hosted a WCCO 830 radio show—once broadcasting mid-flight to a USTA meeting in Hawaii. He also enriched national tennis publications with his insights.

Bob’s leadership shone as President of the Northwestern Tennis Association (1987–1988), USTA National Committee member (1989–2000), and founder of the Minnesota Tennis Hall of Fame (1979). Inducted in 1993, he earned the Media Excellence Award (1997), later renamed in his honor (2007).

In 2005, Bob created “The Bellamy” to celebrate tennis contributors, honoring figures like Steve Bellamy (2005), Nick Bollettieri (2008), and the Bryan brothers (2012) through 2013. Bob arranged matches for George H. W. Bush in 1978 and ABC’s Harry Reasoner, earning gratitude and weaving tennis into their stories.

Condolences and Memorial Contributions
Cards and tributes may be sent to:
The Family of Bob Larson
c/o USTA Northern
2685 Viking Circle, Suite 100
Eagan, MN 55121
Join us in honoring Bob’s legacy at https://gofund.me/eddb9e03.