Hilton Head tennis legend Pat Van der Meer passes away
Hilton Head tennis legend and owner of Van Der Meer Tennis University, Pat Van der Meer, has passed away, the tennis organization announced Tuesday on Facebook.
Her husband, Dennis Van der Meer, founded Van Der Meer Tennis University, and is credited with bringing worldwide recognition to Hilton Head Island as a tennis destination.
Dennis Van der Meer was known as the “teacher of teachers,” and developed a standard group-teaching method for tennis. He also created courses and manuals for teaching wheelchair tennis, helping to spawn a new age of athletic opportunities for adults with disabilities.
Pat and Dennis met in 1980, and bonded quickly over their shared passion for tennis, the post says. The two were “inseparable,” traveling the world to train coaches and players of all experience levels.
Pat was named South Carolina Pro of the Year in 1991, and received the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Tennis and Education Merit Award in 2002.
Dennis passed away in 2019, leaving Pat to carry on his legacy for the past six years.
“Pat was more than an owner; she was the epitome of what a tennis pro should be,” reads the Facebook post. “Her warmth, integrity and care for both the sport and the people around her touched countless lives.”
The organization expects to continue operating “with the same mission and values Pat and Dennis instilled from the very beginning” under the leadership of Pat’s brother, Mike Skinner, along with the current senior leadership team.
Information about memorial services and more will be available at a later date, the post said.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM.
