Kenneth Lundgren became a dear friend in the early 2000s because of tennis. We used to both workout at the William Paterson University gym. Ken saw me playing shadow tennis swinging backhands and forehands in the aerobics room and gym and initiated a conversation. About a decade younger, he also loved tennis and played a bit.
We connected and started playing and became good friends. Ken passed away in January this year at age 45. Only the good die young.
Kenny always had a heart of gold. He was a lefthander but he loved Pete Sampras and imitated the Wimbledon king right down the Nike Air Oscillates, Wilson Pro Staff, Nike shorts and shirts, and even the one finger sweat wipe from his forehead. But Ken never could master that Pistol Pete serve though boy did he try.
Ken had some heath issues and bad breaks in life that he did not deserve. He fell asleep driving home from a bar one night and though he was not drinking, he crashed his Mustang from falling asleep and a passenger died. So a vehicular manslaughter charge put him in jail for a few years. He was the last person who ever deserved to go to jail.
When Ken got out, because he couldn’t get a driver’s license, he had to cycle everywhere. He became a cycling addict, time trial champion, elite racer and then a very successful coach for dozens of local cycling competitors. At the same time he continued to work part time as a tennis coach in Ridgewood NJ, a job I gave to him.
We drifted apart for periods but always seemed to reconnect for a hit here and there and playing pickleball, which he loved, going out for lunch or watching some big boxing championship fights on TV or at a bar.
Ken was a visionary too, he called the Novak Djokovic domination takeover years before it happened, even betting a respected NJ FL coach $1000 bucks that Djokovic was going to win more majors than Federer and Nadal. Ken never tracked down the coach and his wager winnings, he was too nice a guy for that.
Ken I miss your great spirit and enthusiasm. You had a heart of gold. Hope you’re playing pickleball and tennis every day up in the heavenly clouds.
Friend · Kenneth Lundgren · NJ · Novak Djokovic · Pete Sampras
Mike Onello · March 4, 2024 at 11:11 am
Wow! RIP
I didn’t know him as well as you did Scoop but, from what I did know of him, I liked and had some fond memories playing tennis with him…
Scoop Malinowski · March 4, 2024 at 8:06 pm
I remember he really liked you too Mike, thanks for your comments.
Sam · March 7, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Never heard of the guy, but very sad to hear him pass away so young. 😢 Just curious, Scoop—do you happen to know the cause of death?
Scoop Malinowski · March 7, 2024 at 6:55 pm
Sam, I’d rather not disclose that out of respect, too tragic. Here is a Biofile I did with Kenny… https://mrbiofile.com/2024/03/06/biofile-ken-lundgren-interview/?fbclid=IwAR0nSlYGEcxFdRhTkCzrg6xuoBIsqHQI4KhQoRUvMJKfRWS0-K74Knj6Apc
Sam · March 11, 2024 at 9:46 pm
OK, I certainly understand, Scoop. Anyway, sorry to hear about his passing.