The original Trinity Pendant
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I’ve been a craftsman all my life. Becoming a jeweler was a natural evolution. At a young age, I took things apart to examine them, see how they worked, and improve them if I could. I became a toolmaker. After working as a precision machinist for several years, my friend and now partner Roger Defouw began teaching me his trade: goldsmithing. I found a more powerful gratitude in this newfound avenue for my creativity. Before long, I went off on my own, and started my first jewelry business. My inspiration and perspiration were enough to launch the business. But through the years my creativity began to suffer. I became frustrated and left the business.

I’d been an active and gifted tennis player while growing up around Bradenton Florida. Along the way, I befriended some tennis industry people who would shape not just my life, but the entire tennis world.

With the demise of my jewelry business, I began teaching tennis part-time, and found an uncanny ability to convey tennis concepts; make the right suggestions, and improve the game of my students. I loved the work. My students improved. My reputation grew, and a lifelong professional relationship with tennis was established.

But I was still drawn to the artistry of jewelry making. I continued to design and manufacture specific pieces for myself and friends. With no commercial pressure, I worked only on pieces I felt were meaningful.

At this time, Nick Bollettieri’s tennis academy was establishing a reputation as a premier training venue for gifted young tennis prodigies. Under the tutelage of Nick Bollettieri, many of them would go on to become the elite players of their generation, including Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Tommy Haas and Anna Kournikova. I had been friends with Nick and Kelli for years when he offered me the position of Director of Tennis at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Center.

These were heady times for everyone involved. I met a boy with a fiery heart named Andre Agassi, and was surprised to learn of his deep faith; a faith he shared openly with the extended family which Nick and his wife Kelli created for the young students.

I found great inspiration in their spirituality. During this time I designed my most prized piece; the Trinity Pendant. It was originally designed for Kelli Bollettieri, as a symbol of her deep Christian faith. Kelli asked for a object with three equal sides that would represent the Father, Son, and Holy spirit. I decided on a triangle for its mystical and Spiritual powers. I added three unending circle for eternal love and made the circles in white gold to symbolize purity. I intertwined the circles with the sides which completed the message of Pure Eternal love for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. She prized the trinity pendant, and asked me to make a matching piece as a gift for Andre. He wore the piece in public for many years, and it seemed to bring him luck at times.

In 1987, just before the U.S. Open, Andre asked for an earring version of the Trinity Pendant. I had very little time so I used a smaller pendant I had designed for Nicole Bollettieri, Nick’s daughter. I attached a wire hook and shipped it to New York. When Andre returned to the Academy he said the wire hook got caught in his hair, so I made a small half tennis ball on a post. He wanted it to dangle, so I attached a couple small rings together. The Trinity Earring was born.

Andre went on to win several Grand Slams while wearing the Trinity. He had matching pieces made for Gil Reyes and a few close friends. The tennis media recognized the trinity pendant, and noticed that Andre’s career spiked during the periods he wore it. An article in Tennis magazine brought attention to Andre’s relationship with the pendant, and I began getting requests for similar pieces. My second jewelry business was off and running.

The new Mind Body Spirit line is a little wider in the sides than the original Trinity pendant. A colored enamel finish has been added. The basic rainbow colors are standard, but,I can also do custom and the seven Chakra colors. The pendant can also be worn backwards for a solid gold look which resembles the original Trinity.

Andre Agassi wore the Trinity
as a pendant and as an earring.
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