Bob “King Tut” Tutlewski died Sunday July 19 after years of battling with cancer, he was 72. He died at the University of Chicago Hospital accompanied by his wife of 48 years Delores. She never left his side just like the handball courts. Bob cut his teeth in the Illinois handball community at Rainbow beach, he will be missed. Here’s a handball poem his son Robbie wrote…
To the Handballers One wallers Shot callers Blu ballers Kings of the cement 3 wall courts Kill shot, pass shot Tut you had them all Bottom board, never short, never out With you and butch it was always a brawl Young ones, old ones They never had a chance Short ones, fats ones You left them dazed in a trance You weren’t the lightest And butch always showed up late When you were there Your opponent knew there fate You hit hard and fast They never saw you coming Your wrap arounds and bottom boards Always left them running Just like the immigrants before you Those courts were yours Between those cements walls You fought battles, you fought wars You always left friends It’s was only a game But tut came to win His kill shot would put you to shame Let’s get a drink Let’s cheers to the one wallers You will always be remembered Kings of the courts and the tru handballers
-Robbie & Tutlewski family
I played many doubles matches against Tut and Butch McGee. The first time I heard them sniping at each other, I thought it portended well for my team. Over the years, I came to realize 2 things:
1. However much they argued, they always played well; and,
2. There was nothing in the world that those guys wouldn’t have done for one another.
I’ll miss you Tut.