CHICAGO, July 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the
first women to pursue a career in sports – not on a court or a
field, but in the front office-- Eloise
Saperstein Berkley, passed away on Sunday, July 15, in her native Chicago, at age 81. Saperstein Berkley was the
daughter of Harlem Globetrotters' founder and owner Abe Saperstein.
Saperstein Berkley took over ownership of the Globetrotters in
1966, following the death of her father. She traveled the globe
extensively with her father and the Globetrotters and was
instrumental in helping advance the Globetrotters as the world's
most beloved sports team. She also established an impactful
non-profit in his name designed to advance opportunities through
sports for Chicago's youth and
later became the first woman ever certified as an NBA player
representative.
"Eloise was not only a pivotal figure in the history of the
Globetrotters, but a hugely influential figure in basketball and
sports," said Globetrotter President Howard Smith. "She loved the
Globetrotters and was passionate about her father's legacy.
Her impact will continue to be felt for years to come."
Under Saperstein Berkley's direction, the Abe Saperstein
Foundation established free summer camps for Chicago's under resourced youth at which
Saperstein's lifelong friends, who happened to be NBA stars
themselves, along with high school and college coaches, counseled
campers on how to leverage their basketball skills into college
opportunities and lifelong careers.
She later had the Foundation launch basketball clinics
throughout Chicago's inner-city
that delivered a message of utilizing sports as a ladder of
educational advancement. Some of the professional players who
joined Saperstein Berkley in her summer trek of
basketball/education clinics throughout Chicago's South and West sides were
Bob Love, Norm Van Lier,
Artis Gilmore and Harlem
Globetrotter stars Leon Hillard,
Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal. In order to make her message
of securing an education through sports more of a tangible reality,
Saperstein Berkley organized well-attended summer leagues, first at
Chicago-State University on
Chicago's south side and later at
Malcolm X College.
Saperstein Berkley later organized summer leagues through the
Foundation to showcase Chicago's
youth to potential scholarship opportunities, drawing the
participation of players that included Isiah Thomas, Rickey
Green and Bo Ellis. And when
several players she had known since grade school complained of
being taken advantage of by agents, Saperstein Berkley became the
first woman certified by the National Basketball Players
Association to represent players. She successfully represented
several NBA as well as foreign professional players, including
first round draft pick Alfrederick "The Great" Hughes from
Loyola College, and placed the
country's former Secretary of Education, Chicago native Arne
Duncan, with an Australian professional team following his
playing career at Harvard.
In addition to her work with the Globetrotters and with the Abe
Saperstein Foundation, Saperstein Berkley also once owned the New
York Sets of World Team Tennis, one of the first women's
professional tennis teams, which featured Wimbledon champion and
all-time great player, Virginia
Wade.
Saperstein Berkley is survived by three children: Lonni Berkley; Avi
Berkley (Susan Dominic); and
Abra Berkley (Tony Ryba). She is
also survived by five grandchildren: Brandon Berkley-Vigil (Dipa Patel); Abraham
Berkley-Vigil (Xuan Li) Sylvia
Ryba; Ely Ryba, Aaron Ryba and many members of her extended
family and friends. Funeral services are set for Tuesday, July 17 at 1
p.m. at Temple Jeremiah in Northfield, Ill. (937 N. Happ Road)
The Harlem Globetrotters® are legendary worldwide, synonymous
with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills
for the past 92 years. Throughout their history, the Original
Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 123
countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down
cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their
first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have
entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings,
queens, and presidents – over nine thrilling decades. The American
Red Cross is the official charity of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Sponsored by Entenmann's ® Donuts, Ticket Galaxy, Tum-e Yummies and
Baden Sports, Harlem Globetrotters
International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herschend
Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company
in the U.S. For the latest news and information about the Harlem
Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official Web site:
www.harlemglobetrotters.com and follow them on Twitter
@Globies.
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eloise-saperstein-berkley-daughter-of-globetrotters-founder-abe-saperstein-passes-away-at-age-81-300681547.html
SOURCE Harlem Globetrotters