Interview with Sara Waddell Lewinstein

The Windy City Times has a lovely interview with Sara Waddell Lewinstein, a founder of the Gay Games, widow of Dr Tom Waddell,and winner of the 2010 Tom Waddell Award. Here's an extract:

[Sara] will be in Cleveland in 2014. Lewinstein said Waddell would be "ecstatic" that his vision—the Gay Games—is stronger than ever. "He definitely provided a civil-rights movement for our culture," Lewinstein said. "I think he'd say, 'Let's go back to the quality instead of the quantity of how many sports are actually participated in.' He'd be so proud of the Gay Games, and [there's] no reason he shouldn't be.

Read in full HERE.

Jim Provenzano looks at the connection between gay bars and gay sport

Gay and lesbian bars and gay and lesbian sports are intimately connected, as shown by Jim Provenzano, in a column that includes the link with the Gay Games, including this:

But the softball league at the time was men-only, until Sara Lewinstein, owner of The Artemis Café, rounded up some pals and started what became a thriving women’s softball league. Along with Rikki Streicher and her bar Maud’s (and 12 years later, Amelia’s), women-owned bars and cafes supported women’s sports, creating a thriving community.

Read in full HERE.

Tom Waddell Award re-presented to Sara Waddell Lewinstein

The scene was the opening session of the 25th Annual San Francisco Golden Gate Classic Invitational Bowling Tournament on the night of Friday 18 February. This occasion was chosen to re-present the 2010 Tom Waddell Award to Gay Games co-founder Sara Waddell Lewinstein.

Originally announced in Cologne, Germany at the Opening Ceremony of Gay Games VIII on 31 July 2010, along with the male award to Brent Nicholson Earle, this was the official "home town" presentation of the prestigious award.

2006 Tom Waddell Award winner Derek Liecty, 2010 winner Sara Waddell Lewinstein, an FGG Marketing Officer Doug LItwin

Just before the bowling action began, FGG Marketing Officer Doug Litwin warmed up the crowd by giving the history of the Tom Waddell Award, explaining that it has only been awarded on six occasions since 1990. He then introduced FGG Honorary Life Member Derek Liecty who explained how big an honor it was to receive the Award in 2006 at Chicago's Gay Games VII. Derek then did a masterful job of introducing Sara Waddell Lewinstein.

Sara gave a heart-felt speech indicating her genuine pleasure in having this award finally "coming home" to San Francisco. Supporting Sara during this presentation ceremony were her daughter Jessica Waddell Lewinstein, partner Sandy, and various other friends and family members.

Hometown presentation of Dr Tom Waddell Trophy at SF bowling tournament

On Friday, February 18th, 2011 at 7:15pm, just before the opening of the main competition at the San Francisco Golden Gate Invitational Classic Bowling Tournament, the Federation of Gay Games will have the honor of making the "hometown" presentation of the 2012 Tom Waddell Award to Sara Waddell Lewinstein.

This is a "hometown" presentation in more ways than one. First, because it will be made in San Francisco, Sara's current home. And not just her home city, but at the Serra Bowl, which she manages, and at an event in which she is intimately involved.

"Home" as well because this beyond her own contributions to LGBT sport, to the Gay Games, to the place of women in sport and the integration of men's and women's sport, this award recognizes Sara's role in the life and work of the man it honors, Dr Tom Waddell, her partner and spouse.

And "home" of course, because San Francisco is the home of the Gay Games, the Athens of our movement.

For more information about the tournament, part of the schedule of events of FGG member organization IGBO, visit the website HERE.

Sara being Sara - Catching up with Sara Waddell Lewinstein

Reprinted with permission from the Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco)

Published 2 December 2010

by Roger Brigham (roger@idorapark.com)


Fortunate are those who survive long enough to see the completion of karmic arcs launched early in life, see their efforts of decades ago now woven into the lives of younger generations, perhaps enabling them to launch new arcs of their own. We see such karma so frequently these days in LGBT sports, rewards reaped now from the efforts to organize and compete in the 1970s and 1980s, that we often forget to slow down and take notice or to give thanks.

So I was delighted to have a chance during the Thanksgiving weekend this year to spend a little time with Sara Waddell Lewinstein.

Understand, there are no short chats with Sara. Twenty minutes after the first hello, you are either ready to shoot yourself or sign up for whatever she is selling. Seldom coming up for air, she talks virtually nonstop with a sincere warmth and relentless intensity, offering insights and nuggets of information. Before you know it you are wandering through Sara World - and that is a very addictive place to be.

For this visit we were sitting in her office at Serra Bowl in Daly City. Waddell Lewinstein started working there a couple of weeks ago as general manager - the same position she had at Park Bowl back in 1972 when she first moved to San Francisco.

"I came out in Los Angeles right before I moved here," she said. "I had no idea when I moved here there was any gay community in San Francisco. I felt proud to come out. I didn't like the hard-core dykes and the butch women. I just wanted to be me. I didn't like the role-playing back then. I was able to be me at the bowling alley."