Eric Fast–the 2010 US Squash President’s Cup honoree, former US Squash Director and Chair of the College Squash Association–passed away in Greenwich, Connecticut in July. He was seventy-four years old.
In 2010, Fast was presented with the US Squash President’s Cup–the Association’s most prestigious citizenship award–in recognition of his exemplary service to the Association and sport.
Fast served on the US Squash Board of Directors from 2004-2010. Prior to his board service, Fast played a central part in creating the position of Director of Junior Development at US Squash. On the heels of the establishment of the Junior Development Endowment Fund started in 1996 by Bill Broadbent, Fast and a core group of squash parents contributed the funds for the Junior Development role which started in 2000.
In the 10-year period following the participation in junior squash increased 200% and started its expansion geographically, a trend which continues to have momentum today.
While on the US Squash Board, Fast served on two Standing Committees—the Finance, Audit and Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee and also chaired the Junior Development Campaign. The campaign was US Squash’s most successful fundraising campaign to date, raising more than $1.3 million for junior development and the Junior Development Endowment Fund. Fast and his wife, Patti, were the lead donors of the campaign, and contributed generously to the Association and squash and education programs for decades.
In 2017, Fast was recruited by the College Squash Association (CSA) to serve as its first Chair of the Board of Directors after its governance structure change in 2017. The new structure merged the women’s and men’s associations and established the Board as majority independent from the coaches. In this role he played a crucial role in shepherding the reconstituted CSA into its current position as an increasingly respected and growing college sports body.
“Eric was an incredible supporter, mentor and friend,” said Kevin Klipstein, US Squash President and CEO. “While he was recognized formally for his well-known contributions to the sport, there were so many other ways he was involved in advancing the sport behind the scenes for example he was a supporter and advocate for the club squash team at his alma mater, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill which is a program that now has newly renovated courts and is recognition by the school. He even co-owned a squash club to gain insights into the sport and support area coaches and pros. The progress squash has made in the U.S. these last two decades is directly linked to Eric’s vision, his generosity, and the sustained direct investment of his time. He cared deeply about the sport, its positive impact, and the community, and that showed in everything he did. His death is a real loss to the community and he will be sorely missed, and always remembered.”
More details about Fast’s life and celebration can be found here. Read more from the College Squash Association here. One option to make a gift in lieu of flowers is to contribute to SEA’s Scholarship Fund in his name.
