South Bend Tribune
November 26, 1973
 
Otto W. Seifert
‘Mr. Tennis’ Dies at 66
 
 Otto W. (Pie) Seifert, 66, “Mr. Tennis of South Bend,” died at 1 a.m. Sunday in the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis after a short illness.
 Seifert, a coach and teacher in the South Bend Community School Corp. for 38 years, was director of the Leeper Park tennis program for more than 30 summers. And as instructor, confidant and benefactor of thousands of young and old tennis players through the years, he was well-known for his tennis throughout the nation.
 “Pie” received his nickname from a school day incident involving a bakery truck driver, and it followed him throughout his life. In his days at Benjamin Harrison Elementary School, he might have been known as “Mr. Seifert,” but in his favorite haunt at Leeper Park, he was simply “Pie” to tennis buffs young and old.
 Seifert was born Feb. 8, 1907, in South Bend and had lived here all his life, graduating from Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo in 1932 and later receiving his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.
 On Feb. 9, 1935, he married Verna Fenska, who survives at the family home, 1401 King St., along with two sons, Ronald E., also a tennis professional, of Davisburg, Mic., and Robert A., a student at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. Also surviving are a brother, Andrew, of South Bend and two sisters, Mrs. Etta Riedel of South Bend, and Mrs. Helen Britton, San Diego.
 At South Bend High School in the 1920s, Seifert was a gifted athlete, winning his letter in several sports, including football as a quarterback. He also competed in sports at Western Michigan.
 
 Army Veteran
 Seifert was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, the South Bend Tennis Club, and the Maennerchor Club, and a retired athletic official in several sports.
 In tennis, he was the ranking committeeman of the Western District of the U.S. Lawn Tennis Assn. and in 1971 was the head referee of the NCAA championships at Notre Dame.
 Friends may call from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Welsheimer Funeral Home, 521 N. William St., where services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday with Rev. Walter D. Oberholtzer, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, officiating.
 Memorial contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation, 310 S. Greenlawn Ave., or to the South Bend Tennis Club’s Junior Development Program.