Juan Pablo Arico loved spreading cheer to his co-workers and tennis students and had a heart for children battling serious illnesses.
Arico knew the names of nearly all his more than 200 coworkers at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. He always showed the same level of respect to all his tennis students, whether they were elite players or students with special needs.
“He was one of the most special people I ever met,” said Gail Luxenberg, MJCCA’s CEO. “He would go out of his way to speak to people on his way in. He’d call out from the tennis court to greet people and ask about their mother or sister. He was so self-effacing, so genuine.”
Arico of Atlanta died March 24. He was 51. His memorial service was March 27 at the MJCCA.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At age 10, he switched from the soccer field to the tennis court at the nudging of his father, a recreational tennis player. Father and son played tennis together until Arico started dominating their matches.
Arico went on to become a nationally ranked tennis player in his home country. He considered the tennis professional circuit, but opted to teach.
“He decided he loved coaching more. He loved interacting with people,” said his brother, Daniel Arico of New Baltimore, Mich.
In 1986, he moved to the United States to work as a tennis instructor in Michigan. The language barrier made communication difficult, so he returned to Argentina three years later and took English lessons.
In 2000, Arico returned to Michigan to live near his brother and parents. Soon afterward, he relocated to Atlanta, lured by its warmer climate and reputation as a top tennis town.
In 2003, he joined MJCCA’s tennis staff as an instructor. Six years later, he was named the center’s director of tennis and tennis camps. Known for his smile and caring spirit, he helped students improve their tennis skills while instilling sportsmanship on and off the court.
“I’ve had top-level players tell me he was the best coach they ever had,” Luxenberg said. “He took kids with disabilities on our campus and played tennis with them, even if they were in wheelchairs. No matter the ability level, he gave them all the love.”
He also was admired for his generosity, and made a donation to the nonprofit community center to show his appreciation for working there, Luxenberg said.
In 2013, he reached out to the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities and asked if he could volunteer there to teach tennis to children and their parents. That fall, he showed up with tennis rackets, balls and a net, jokes and a smile.
“When Juan came over, he had such a connection. I wish I could smile that much. It must have been exhausting,” said Caroline Mealor, volunteer services manager at the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House. “It didn’t matter if the families could play tennis. It was about the fun.”
A few months later, he organized teams of volunteers from MJCCA to visit the Ronald McDonald House on family activity night to make crafts, bake cookies, and play tennis. MJCCA dancers would perform, and Arico would bring his acoustic guitar and lead the families in sing-alongs. He visited twice a month until his death.
“He was everyone’s best friend. He made everyone feel special,” Mealor said. “I will strive to treat people the way he treated me and our families.
One young patient with a beautiful voice mentioned during a sing-along that she wanted a guitar, Mealor said. Arico bought her one, but her family checked out of the facility and returned to their home 150 miles away before he could deliver it.
Her family read news of his death on Facebook. They were among the 500 people who showed up at the MJCCA tennis courts for Arico’s memorial service, where she was presented with the guitar.
“He was an inspiration to us all,” Luxenberg said. “He made us want to do good and do better. We’ll miss all the cheer he spread each day when he walked in. There’s a giant hole in our hearts.”
Daniel said he didn’t realize his brother’s impact on others until he attended the memorial service. “He was so humble and never talked about what he did for others,” Daniel said. “I’m so proud. I’m speechless, really. I will carry this in my memory for the rest of my life.”
In addition to his brother, Arico is survived by his parents Juan and Norma Arico of Rochester Hills, Mich.
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