A High School Memory: Jackie’s Tennis Match with Robert Redford

When Hollywood legend Robert Redford came to Lake Forest to film Ordinary People, the town buzzed with excitement. Local families opened their homes, and in true Midwest fashion, a party was organized in his honor. Among the helpers that evening was a high school student named Jackie Kazarian.

At the time, Jackie was a student at Lake Forest High School. She wasn’t there to mingle with stars or make headlines — just to lend a hand. She found herself in the kitchen, tidying up, when Redford stepped in. What began as casual small talk quickly became something extraordinary.

Redford learned that Jackie was on the high school tennis team. His face lit up with interest. Then, almost casually, he asked: “Would you like to play a game of tennis with me?”

The next afternoon, Robert Redford — already a household name, admired around the world — pulled up to Lake Forest High School to pick up Jackie. In front of her classmates, she climbed into the car of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors. It was a scene that, even decades later, feels almost unreal.

Redford had been a college tennis player, and Jackie insists he was much better than she was. But those who know Jackie might take her modesty with a grain of salt. After all, she has been holding her own on the tennis court for more than 46 years. Still, whether it was a friendly rally or a competitive match, what mattered most was the surreal, unforgettable experience.

To imagine it today, it would be like a high school student being picked up by Brad Pitt or George Clooney, whisked away to play a sport they loved together. A once-in-a-lifetime brush with stardom — but more than that, a moment of genuine kindness from a man who never seemed too important to connect with ordinary people.

That day became a cherished memory in Jackie’s life, one she would carry forever. It wasn’t about celebrity or glamour. It was about a brief, human encounter with someone who, despite his fame, treated her as a peer and a friend.

Now, with Robert Redford’s passing, stories like Jackie’s surface as reminders of the quiet ways he touched lives. He was more than a great artist. He was a humanitarian, a man who gave the best of himself — on screen, and in small, unforgettable gestures like a simple game of tennis with a teenager.

RIP Robert Redford — a beautiful soul who left the world richer for his presence.