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STA holds send-off for Ashrafs
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Posted on Nov 08 2004
The Saipan Tennis Association feted Dr. Mohammad Ashraf and his family with a heartwarming send-off party Friday night at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.
STA president Roy Pangelinan led the group in thanking Ashraf, his wife, Verna Felipe, and their daughter, Kanani Ashraf, for their selfless contributions not only to the association but the sport of tennis and the island community in general.
The Ashraf family will be relocating back to Hawaii and will leave Saipan this afternoon. Dr. Ashraf said after more than a decade in the CNMI, which included seven straight years residing on Saipan, he and his family would be moving to Honolulu following Felipe’s retirement at the Bank of Hawaii.
Pangelinan said he is losing a good friend and a great mentor in Dr. Ashraf. Former lawmaker Dino Jones, meanwhile, said the sport of tennis on Saipan will miss the fundraising and organizational expertise of Felipe.
For his part, ex-Filipino American Tennis Association head Boyet Minor said that the islands’ junior ranks would never be the same with Kanani moving to Hawaii.
On a more emotional side, Sally Wong said her daughter, Vivian Lee, felt sad learning that bestfriend Kanani will be leaving Saipan and moving to Hawaii.
Pangelinan gave Dr. Ashraf a plaque, a small token of appreciation for their family’s contributions throughout the years.
Dr. Ashraf thanked STA for the gift as well as the party. He said Saipan would always hold a special part in their hearts and he and his family would have fond memories of their stay in the Commonwealth.
The food during the send-off party was a virtual smorgasbord of international cuisines as the tennis club’s multi-ethnic membership expressed their gratitude to the Ashraf family by bringing food prepared or cooked in their own kitchens.
The Ashrafs reportedly also got send-off parties from the Saipan Rotary Club and their homeowners association in Capitol Hill.
