She’ll compete in the 55+ Masters category in tennis.
There are few things that former University of Michigan cardiothoracic radiologist junior faculty/assistant professor Dr. Luba Frank enjoys more than playing the sport of tennis — a sport she didn’t pick up until her mid-30s while living in Israel.
“A friend of mine said, ‘Let me teach you tennis because it’s better to play with you than hit the ball against the wall’,” Frank said. “I just fell in love with the game — it’s incredible. I introduced the game to both of my sons, and we’re a tennis-loving family.”
At age 58, Frank will make her debut in the Maccabiah Games this summer in Tel Aviv. She’s the only female player for the American team in the 55+ Masters category. They’ll face teams from Israel, Argentina, Brazil, Slovenia and Switzerland, among other countries.
“I am looking forward to going there and having a great experience,” Frank said. “Even if there’s no medal, it’s OK. I’m doing my best and training my best. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll play singles, doubles or mixed doubles.”
Frank, who now lives in the Houston area, moved from Haifa, Israel, to Ann Arbor in 2006 to accept a cardiothoracic radiology fellowship at U-M. She only expected to stay for a year or two but spent a decade in Ann Arbor with her husband, Boris, and their two young children, who are now 29 and 24 years old, respectively.
The Franks attended the Chabad House of Ann Arbor and immediately felt welcomed. Their children attended Ann Arbor Hebrew Day School. They spent the summers visiting places like Mackinac Island and Traverse City.
Their older son, Michael, graduated from Huron High School where he helped lead the tennis team to a state championship. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from U-M.
Because of their busy schedules, the Franks rarely return to Michigan, but they love having Zingerman’s delicacies shipped to them in Texas.
“They have great service and we order — not only for ourselves — but for family, friends and loved ones,” Frank said.
These days, Frank balances training with her high-level medical career. She’s the director of cardiothoracic imaging for Baylor-St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston. She first learned about the Maccabiah Games during a 2017 trip to Israel.
“We always take racquets with us on family vacations and always play,” Frank said. “We were playing and saw all of the flags. That was the Maccabiah Games. I first saw that and it was so impressive and amazing. I thought it would be really incredible if my sons or I could play in the Maccabiah Games.”
Frank traveled to south Florida for tryouts and made the team. She was all set to compete in the Maccabiah Games last summer before it was postponed to this year due to the war with Iran.
Frank was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the late 1960s and lived in Turkmenistan and Latvia before making aliyah in 1993.
“It was totally different than Russia,” Frank said. “The people and the weather were much warmer. Every minute and every moment you live in Israel is the experience of a lifetime. It’s something very special.”
Growing up in the former Soviet Union, citizens weren’t allowed to openly practice religion. That is why Frank is grateful for her time in Israel and in America where she’s worshipped at Chabad, both in Michigan and Texas.
The Detroit Jewish News has been supported by readers like you since 1942. Support independent, local, Jewish journalism with a donation today.