DIANE MAKAR MURPHY Tennis pals serve up wisdom on staying youthful

They aren't a threat to the Williams sisters, or even McEnroe or Connors, but jeez Louise, they're in their 70s and 80s and chasing balls around a tennis court. That's got to count for something.
Saturday mornings at 9, you'll find Joe Carano, Edward Hulme, Alex DelBene and Esther Amendolea playing doubles on Mill Creek's courts, alongside other golden-agers who forgot to get "too old to play tennis."
They're a little slower than the younger set, but they play with that economy of motion so annoying to new players (like me). And their serves still rock across the net on occasion.
"Life's a matter of good habits and bad habits," Hulme said. "You get into a habit and you do it." For these four, fitness is a habit.
"I love doing it. It's kept me fit and feeling good," explained Amendolea, whose tanned legs look like those of a 20-year-old.
Each of the four has lived an active life. Hulme, 80, of Liberty, was a runner on Rayen High's track team before he graduated in 1939 then went on to compete at Ohio State. Though he works at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber now, he used to be a paratrooper and racked up 28 jumps between World War II and Korea.
Hulme, in addition to playing tennis, works out every day.
Variety of activities
Carano, a Memorial High School Football Hall of Fame inductee, is "above 80" -- one person told me 82; another 84. In addition to tennis, he works out at the Jewish Community Center two hours a week.
DelBene, 74, played basketball for Eastside Civics in Youngstown as a kid and was inducted into its Hall of Fame. He played baseball, then fast-pitch softball through the years and has competed in the Senior Olympics for about two decades.
Lately, he's pursued a smaller ball -- on the links -- driving a 175-yard hole-in-one on the 18th hole of Mahoning Country Club's course on May 29th. The retired Girard elementary school teacher took up golfing at 69.
Said DelBene, who plays tennis both lefty and righty, "Tennis is a great game. It requires concentration; it's an efficient game." The days of the week he's not chasing a tennis ball, he's at the JCC working on the weight machines or swimming.
"I know some guys who don't exercise," Hulme said, "and can't even get out of bed."
DelBene agreed. "I went to the doctor, and he said, 'You're the healthiest patient I ever had.'"
"Sometimes it's hard for me, but I do it," Carano admitted.
Not slowing down
Amendolea also has been active her entire life. Now widowed, she was married for 53 years, and has six children now living "across the world" from Singapore to Nashville.
"I was always active with whatever I could do," she said. "I always said I was born too soon by about 50 years. But it's kept me fit and feeling good."
In addition to tennis two hours a day, three days a week, Amendolea swims three or four times a week and lifts weights three days a week. She also took 14 medals in one day at the Senior Olympics. "I love doing it. I don't have a negative attitude about everything," she said.
The Saturday morning tennis matches are informal; word got around that seniors were meeting, and eventually, the courts were full. Even a rainy day doesn't dampen the enthusiasm of participants.
"We've established a good rapport with and respect for each other," Hulme said.
"And most of the people here can read and talk intelligently about what they've read," Carano said with a smile, indicating athletics is just a part of the allure of meeting with friends.
murphy@vindy.com