Ava Schumacher Celebrates 45 Years
of USTA Officiating

For nearly half a century, Ava Schumacher has been a respected USTA tennis official across Southern California. This year marks a significant milestone: her 45th anniversary officiating and the Section’s 2025 Glass Ball winner—awarded for her commitment and dedication to community tennis. Over many decades, Ava has witnessed the sport evolve and formed lifelong connections within a community she cherishes. Her dedication and love for tennis is a true inspiration, reminding us all to pursue our passions, take chances, and enjoy the journey.

Early Life & Discovering Officiating

Born in Wiesbaden, Germany in 1951, Ava’s life began far from the desert home she now enjoys in Indio, California. Her father was stationed in the Air Force, and once he was discharged, they moved back to the United States. From there, she planted her roots in Southern California, having lived in San Diego and Orange County for decades. Today at 74 years old, she reflects on her officiating journey with gratitude, recognizing how an unexpected turn led her to a lifelong role in tennis.

As a recreational tennis player, Ava found herself drawn to the sport in her early 20s. While attending Arizona State University, she went to a Virginia Slims Circuit tournament and recognized one of the officials from the Phoenix Parks & Recreation department where Ava played tennis. The moment stuck with her. After graduating and moving to San Diego in 1980, she reached out to learn more about officiating, unaware that it would shape the next 45 years of her life.

From her first experiences working with longtime officiating leaders Mike Butler and Bob Christianson, Ava found herself hooked. After moving to Orange County in 1982, she officially joined USTA Southern California and began working tournaments of all levels—junior, collegiate, league, and professional.

“Officiating in Southern California just has so many options,” she says. “You can do grassroots juniors. You can do USTA Leagues. You’ve got ITA [Intercollegiate Tennis Association] and you’ve got professionals. There’s so much to offer and so many opportunities that one can take advantage of.”

Community & Advice

Ask her why she’s officiated for so long, and she’ll tell you it’s the people and community. “Being part of the tennis community to me is a unique and humbling opportunity. I have met so many different people from all walks of life, both players and umpire personnel. I’ve made many, many new friends over the years. I truly enjoy this unique community of officials,” she reflects.

Teri Cohn—her colleague and friend who has officiated for 20 years—echoes that sentiment, describing what makes working with Ava so enjoyable: “With Ava, you have the opportunity to work with an experienced official who will work hard and be as cheerful at the beginning of the day as the end. She’s always happy to be on site and see you! She is easy to work with and has a great sense of humor. You’re always going to have a great time working with Ava.” 

For newcomers, Ava’s advice is to embrace and be open to the journey. “As we see new officials coming into the organization, I think they just need to have an open mind, ask for advice, be open to constructive feedback, and proceed through the officiating ranks with grace,” Ava remarks. “As much as one would like to be able to jump right into professional tournaments, one needs to really start at the grassroots level and do the leg work.”

Sportsmanship First

Throughout her 45 years, Ava has accumulated many officiating stories—some stressful, most exciting. “Working back in the day when it was [Stefan] Edberg, [Jimmy] Connors, and [John] McEnroe and that era of players was fascinating and nerve-wracking at the same time. I’m so glad that sportsmanship has improved over the years!” she says, laughing. 

Today, sportsmanship remains a core belief for Ava and a critical component to uphold in tennis. “Sportsmanship is a key aspect for a player,” she says. “It’s all about maintaining their composure, being courteous, respecting the rules, accepting wins and losses graciously, playing fair, and staying positive.” 

Professional & Personal Endeavors

Alongside her long-standing officiating practice, Ava had an equally thriving career in the corporate and education sectors. For 25 years, she worked as a special education teacher in the Orange Unified School District, teaching English and algebra. Before teaching, she spent nine years at General Dynamics, a global aerospace and defense company. Along the way, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, her teaching credential from Chapman University, and her master’s degree from the University of La Verne.

Ava also has a flourishing personal life filled with family, hobbies, and a whole lot of travel. She raised two children; her daughter is a mental health therapist with Kaiser Permanente, and her son is an area loyalty supervisor at Hyatt Corporation. She is also a proud grandmother of one-year-old Teddy, who brings her endless joy. 

Travel & Hobbies

Retirement has only fueled Ava’s adventurous spirit. Remarkably, she’s lived, visited, or traveled to every state in the U.S., finishing with Alaska two years ago. She’s also been on multiple cruises in several places—from the West Coast and East Coast to Europe and Canada.

Most recently, she returned from a three-week trip across Asia, where she and her daughter achieved a lifelong bucket-list goal: visiting every Disneyland in the world. “Now I just need to wait for Saudi Arabia to finish their Disneyland and I’ll adventure over there,” she jokes.

“Another fun thing I’ve done since I’ve retired is I go to the qualifying week of the US Open and enjoy watching the up-and-coming players and catching up with my officiating friends who are working the tournament,” she says.

At home in Indio, Ava plays League tennis five to seven days a week, participates in numerous clubs, and is learning to play the ukulele. She also has three cats, though she insists with a smile, “Just don’t call me a crazy cat lady!”

A Fulfilling Life

Looking back, Ava is especially appreciative of the opportunities officiating has given her and her family. “I have honestly enjoyed doing this when I could and where I could. It was a secondary profession to my career path and raising my children. The opportunities that I’ve worked have been very memorable. If I didn’t enjoy the sport and the opportunities of meeting the people I have over the years, I probably would not have pursued this as long as I have,” she shares.

Her colleague Teri remembers a moment that encapsulates Ava’s generosity and commitment: “Several years ago several of us were in Las Vegas for a women’s professional event. Ava happened to be in town on a mini vacation and stopped by the event to say hello. When she found out we were short handed, she gave up her time off and helped out at the tournament so we could be fully staffed.”

Stories like these show why Ava’s officiating legacy is a testament not only to her decades of experience, but also the kindness and professionalism she brings to every court.