She was small in stature, but for those who knew Cynthia Lum she was a towering presence for years at pro tennis’ four Grand Slams, big Davis Cup events, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and serving as the official photographer for 20-plus years at the ATP Los Angeles Open held at UCLA.

She loved trips to Paris and the French Open photographing Rafa Nadal, and horse racing locally at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. She also had a deep passion for art and jazz and loved good wine. She was a breath of fresh air and always greeted you with a smile in tennis media centers and the classic “photo wells” set court side at tournaments around the world. She gave people she worked with nicknames. I was simply “Jack” because my name resembled Jack Spratt.

“Cynthia had energy, spunk, and a great eye and always was good company,” said Bill Simons, longtime Inside Tennis Magazine founder and publisher. “She had a quick wit and gave tennis an array of long-lasting photos that captured the great moments of our game. She was a small woman, just 5-foot-1 or so, but her legacy is big.”

Lum, who passed away in September after a battle with cancer, lived just north of Peir Avenue in Hermosa Beach and loved walking the Strand and meeting new people. Each year there was an invitation to visit her home around the holidays and see the lights in Manhattan Beach. Recently her daughter Liza Marquardt has been poring over a garage full of cabinets of old photographs and slides that will be just a small part of Lum’s lasting legacy.

“How lucky all of us were to have known and worked with someone as positive and professional as Cynthia Lum,” said Joel Drucker, esteemed Los Angeles tennis author and historian. “She was a wonderful part of the traveling tennis circus and will be greatly missed.”

Lum loved the tennis players she photographed, especially her all-time favorites Patrick Rafter and Rafa Nadal. Pete Sampras signed many of Lum’s photos over the years and she always talked about the amazing talent of the Southern California players and how she loved following and shooting locals like Michael Chang, Lindsay Davenport, the Williams sisters, and the Bryan Brothers around the globe.

“She would always compliment Rafa on really being the gentleman everyone thought he was,” Marquardt said of the recently retired Spaniard star. “He’s a true champion in every sense of the word.”

Lum was called a “legend” and former SoCal standout players like Michael Joyce, Sean Brawley, Eric Amend and Barry Buss recalled Cynthia on Liza’s Facebook post.

Tennis writer Sandra Harwitt said Lum, “Was a tour de force and had more joie de vivre. I am glad to have called her a friend and travel mate through many years.”

The following is a Facebook post from Liza that captures her mother best and reads in part:

She was a force
Tiny and fierce
Fierce in love, determination, and gratitude for being alive
She loved hearts and anything pink and red…and yellow flowers
She loved sunshine, and jazz, and the arts
She was a photographer and a writer
She traveled the world and created beautiful images
She was a mother, and a grandmother and a greatgrandmother and a sister
She made an impact on all those that met and knew her
She lived her life with no apologies
She lived her life as
CYNTHIA…

Tennis writer Alix Ramsay said: “Wherever I saw her, she was always Cynthia: dressed in her own style, always one to say hello and always hefting around those heavy cameras despite her tiny frame. She was a remarkable lady and the tennis world will miss her…Somewhere, in whatever realm, sphere or part of the ether, Cynthia will be wearing pink, taking pictures and just being Cynthia. Because that’s what Cynthia did and will always do.”

Marquardt said after the New Year, there will be a Celebration of Life for those who would like to honor Cynthia Lum and you can continue to check Lum’s Facebook and Instagram (@cynthia.photo) pages for more information.