Evelyn Waxman

Evelyn Waxman, neé Simon, 80, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away on May 10, 2023, after a 5-year battle with dementia.

Evelyn was born on July 13,1942 to Nathan and Ida Simon in New Jersey. After graduating from Ewing High School in 1960, Evelyn had opportunities to study at Princeton University and The Julliard School, where she would have studied music theory and focused on her passion—classical piano.  Instead, following her parents’ concerns about pursuing a career in music, Evelyn attended and was graduated from Rider College.  Following graduation, Evelyn accepted a job working for the New Jersey State Department of Education. 

In 1962, she met her ex-husband, Dr. Ronald L. Waxman, and they wed in 1963, going on to have two children, Ilene and Scott.  During this time, Evelyn was a classical concert pianist and, through her performances and teaching piano, she helped fund her husband’s education so that he could become a dentist.

In 1973, Evelyn put piano to the side and threw herself into the sport of tennis, establishing the retail business that she would go on to run for many years, The Tennis Joint, Inc.  In that same year, she became the first concessionaire for New Castle County, Delaware at the Delcastle Tennis Center.  In 1977, with her good friend Dot Enny, Evelyn co-founded the Women’s Tennis Club of New Castle County to provide an opportunity for women to bond, learn and grow through their shared love of the game of tennis.  The Women’s Tennis Club of New Castle County continues to exist today and boasts hundreds of members.

During her decades of devotion to the sport of tennis in Delaware, Evelyn was responsible for managing all of the public tennis courts in New Castle County, where she organized tournaments hailing players from all over the Middle States region of the United States Tennis Association.  In 1985, The Middle States Tennis Association awarded the Delcastle Tennis Center, which Evelyn had completely transformed, as the Member Organization of the Year.  Evelyn also managed an indoor tennis club and the DuPont Country Club tennis facilities during her career.  In 1999, Evelyn was inducted into the Delaware Tennis Hall of Fame.  Former Executive Secretary for the Delaware District of the United States Tennis Association, Nancy Keiper, said “Tennis in Delaware would never have expanded like it has if it wasn’t for Evelyn Waxman.”

Evelyn loved animals of all kinds, but especially the feral cats she rescued and her beloved poodles, including K’ton-ton, Tiki, Fanny, Kolya, Zhivago, and Max.

Evelyn was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her daughter, Ilene, her son-in-law, Eric, her grandson, Tyler, her son, Scott, her brother, Leonard, her sister, Letha, nieces, nephews, their spouses and children.

The family would like to acknowledge the devoted care offered by Evelyn’s caregiver and friend during the last years of her life, Esmeralda Reynoso.  

Arrangements are being handled by Riverside Memorial Chapel, Ewing, NJ.  Burial is private.  A celebration of life service will be held in Evelyn’s honor.  The date and time will be announced separately.  In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a donation to the Dementia Society of America (www.dementiasociety.org).  Due to the lack of a local minyan, Shiva will not be observed.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Evelyn Waxman, please visit our floral store.