ITHACA, N.Y. — Richard 'Dick' Savitt '50, one of the all-time tennis greats and a two-sport athlete while a student at Cornell, died this past Friday. Savitt was 95.

Savitt, who taught himself how to play tennis at the age of 14, posted a 57-2 career record in singles during his four-year tenure from 1947-50 on the Big Red tennis team, which posted a 51-8 record over the four-year span and claimed Eastern Intercollegiate Tennis Association team titles in 1948 and 1949.

During his four years on East Hill, Savitt assumed the team's No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles. Savitt ended his collegiate career as a two-time Eastern Intercollegiate singles champion (1949 and 1950), and a three-time doubles champion (1948, 1949, 1950). He also reached the NCAA quarterfinals as a freshman (1947) and as a junior (1949).

Savitt also played seven games with the Cornell men's basketball team during the 1946-47 season.

"Dick left a legendary legacy behind him," said Silviu Tanasoiu, the current Savitt-Weiss Head Coach of Men's Tennis at Cornell. "A true icon that made a lasting impact on so many people. Besides his tennis and business accomplishments, he was the ultimate professional. I personally cherish every opportunity I had to spend time with him."

One year following his graduation from Cornell, Savitt defeated Ken McGregor in the finals at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 1951.

At the time, Savitt was just the second American to win multiple Grand Slam tournaments in the same year, joining Don Budge, who did so in 1937 and 1938. Jimmy Connors (1974 and 1982) and Pete Sampras (1994 and 1997) have accomplished the feat since Savitt.

Following Savitt's retirement in 1952, he returned to the court on a part-time basis beginning in 1956. He made a pair of quarterfinal appearances at the U.S. Open in 1956 and 1958.

Savitt earned a pair of gold medals in tennis at the 1961 Maccabiah Games, claiming the singles and doubles championships.

In addition to being in the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame, Savitt is also inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (1976), International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1979), Intercollegiate Tennis Association Men's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame (1986), National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1998), and the UTSA Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame (1999).

Savitt is survived by his son Robert (Bob), and three grandchildren.