Like Steven, I am an immigrant from Europe settling down in Houston, TX. That's the end of the similarities. Whereas Steven fled his native country following the brutal suppression by the Soviet Union of the Hungarians in 1956, I came to this country from a peaceful Scandinavian country on a working visa with my family twenty years later. We met at the Windemere tennis club, where Steven was already an established legend.

In spite of the huge difference in our backgrounds I always felt that we had something in common. Most obviously we both talked with an accent, which was so different from the Texan drawl. Secondly, we loved playing tennis, but it took me more than ten years before the age difference allowed me occasionally to beat him. He was a brilliant single player, always knowing where to place the shot out of reach of the opponent. I suppose this had to do with his unquestionable intelligence.

I have enjoyed the numerous times we have spent playing tennis on the Windemere courts. Not only because of your capabilities on the court, but also because it increased my social status being able to report that my tennis partner arrived in a Rolls Royce! Our meetings on the court of The Landing were particularly special as they were often followed by a drink in his appartment, a Pandora's box of artifacts showing the incredible artistic background of this unique person.

In honor of the memory of you, my friend, Steven Benke,

Jens Houken