Susan Spessard Cain, died Sunday, April 18, at the age of 76.

Susan Margaret Spessard was born in Roanoke, Va., on Oct. 9, 1933. During her childhood, her family lived in California and Pennsylvania before settling in Norfolk, Va. Her father, Dr. Thomas Nathaniel Spessard, was a neurosurgical psychiatrist for the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Sue graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Va., in 1955. She was vice president of her freshman and junior classes, president of the Athletic Association and a member of the dance group and college chorus.

Randolph-Macon offered sports to girls, and Sue played on the volleyball, softball and hockey teams. She was active in so many things the college dean called her in to her office one day and said, "It looks like you're majoring in extracurricular activities."

In 1956, Sue had become a medical technologist and was working at the Medial College of Virginia in Richmond, Va., when she met and married the love of her life, Ronald Alva Cain. They had three sons and two daughters.

Even with her many responsibilities as the mother of five children, Sue remained active outside the home in the Richmond and Boca Grande communities: She was on the Junior Board of the Retreat Hospital, and of the William Byrd Community House in Richmond. She was a member of the Richmond Woman's Club and The Daughters of the Confederacy.

In Boca Grande, Sue served on the Board of Directors of the Lemon Bay Golf Club, the Vestry of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, the Scholarship Committee for Lemon Bay High School and was active in the Boca Grande Woman's Club.

Her love of sports continued throughout her life and she focused on tennis in her adult life. She won her first championship in the Norfolk City Open in 1950. In 1969 she won the Richmond City Open in singles and doubles.

The whole family played tennis, and she drove all over the state taking her children to tournaments. During these travels she discovered how few people knew and followed the Rules of Tennis. As she wrote: "Thus began my avocation as a tennis umpire." This function had been, up until that time, performed by men, but Sue entered the field with plenty of confidence.

In 1972 she began umpiring tournaments and for the next 16 years she chaired matches in Virginia and beyond becoming the first female Grand Prix Official. She chaired and called lines at the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the Olympics in Seoul, Korea.

In 1983 she chaired the U.S. Open final match between Chris Evert Lloyd and Martina Navratilova.

Sue organized and taught USTA Umpire Schools and clinics every year from 1979-1988. From 1972 into the 1990s, Sue was tireless in organizing and running tennis events large and small, junior, adult and professional. She coached juniors in the sport for several years.

Sue's dedication and commitment to the game of tennis brought her many accolades, including induction into the Virginia Tennis Hall of Fame, the USTA Mid-Atlantic Tennis Hall of Fame and many awards and citations for outstanding service.

In 1990 at age 57, Sue took up golf. This quickly grew into a passion she shared with Ron. During her golf outings, she proudly accomplished making a hole-in-one - twice.

She was also active in singing and dancing throughout her life, in college, in Richmond and then in Boca Grande where she performed in numerous productions for The Royal Palm Players. She sang in the Barbershop of Boca Grande, was a founding member of Bocapella and a member of the St. Andrew's Church Choir.

Sue was part of the heart of St Andrew's Church and touched many lives in Richmond and Boca Grande.

Sue was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ron. She is survived by her five children: Ronald Alva Cain Jr., and his wife, Brenda; Thomas Spessard Cain and his wife, Millie; James Edward Cain and his wife, Susan; Susan Houston Cain and her friend Linda; Elizabeth Cain Hassan and her husband, Brian; and seven grandchildren, whom she described as "all smart and beautiful."

There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. Friday at St. James Episcopal Church in Richmond, Va. A memorial service is planned for Sue in Boca Grande in November.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sue and Ron Cain Memorial Music Fund at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 272, Boca Grande FL 33921.