Eleonora sears biography

Her social connections, exquisite manners, and wealth—as well as her looks—made her a magnet for the Sapphic and bi-ladies set. While Eleo always rode horses, she took up tennis in the s with her usual ferocity, becoming one of the top players of the day. In her 50s, the millionaire horsewoman took up breeding and racing, with huge expenditures in staff and stock that would have staggered many Americans.

She seduced the older woman and then started isolating her from old friends and relatives. Eleo would not have wanted to live without her constant good health; on March 26,she passed away peacefully at the age of Her will had donated to six hospitals, all of which she had helped in the past; the rest of her estate was to go to Madame, who tried to cut the hospitals out of the gifts.

Kit van Cleave is a freelance writer living in Montrose. For a while she dated Harold Stirling Vanderbiltthe sporty scion of the Vanderbilt fortune. Sears won the women's doubles at the U. Women's National Championships four times, including three consecutively — In singles, she was a finalist inwhere she was beaten in straight sets by Mary Browne.

She teamed with Willis E. Davis to take the national mixed doubles championship in She purchased the Burrland Farm for horses inthen "deliberately gutted and burned [its mansion] down" in to reduce property taxes. She sold the farm in She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame injoining her uncle Richard inducted Eleonora Sears rode horses competitively and was elected to the U.

Show Jumping Hall of Fame in She also owned and raced Thoroughbred eleonora sears biography. Sears was the first female national squash champion, a founder of the Women's Squash Racquets Association, and coach of the U. Women's International Squash Team. She gained media attention for her long-distance walks and hikes. As well, she was one of the first American women to drive an automobile and fly a plane.

Later in life she lived in Florida with Marie V. Gendron July 22, — January 26,nickname madame, who, at Sears' death, inherited her whole estate. She retained half of it, including Sears' house in Florida, jewelry and works of arts, and gave the rest to six Massachusetts hospitals. Contents move to sidebar hide.

Eleonora sears biography

Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Women's Squash Racquets Association, an organization to promote women's athletics, and continued to compete herself. Inshe and Sylvia Henrotin won the women's doubles tennis championship for women over age The next year, she was a semifinalist in the U. She was still competing in squash championships for her age group inat age In Sears, whose career had reputedly earned her over trophies, retired to Palm Beach, Florida, where she died in Following her death, she was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

She was also posthumously honored as an inductee of the Horseman's Hall of Fame inand the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame for polo, golf, and squash in Garraty, John A. Carnes, eds. American National Biography. NY: Oxford University Press, Oglesby, Carole A. Encyclopedia of Women and Sport in America. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx, The New York Times obituary.

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Women Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps Sears, Eleanora — Sears, Eleanora — gale. Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia. More From encyclopedia. Be sure to visit in May ! Eleonora Sears. Read More. Career Highlights. Grand Slams. Doubles Winner:, ,