Tennis lost one of its most passionate and successful players Friday when Mel Leong died at age 74 after a brief battle with cancer and pneumonia.

Leong was one of Hawai'i's premier players for nearly a decade, ranked among the state's top three in singles and doubles in the late 1960s and early '70s, while playing with the likes of Dean Brinkman and Walter Jensen. Leong also traveled extensively as a member of the Air Force tennis team when he was stationed in Louisiana.

Mel and brother Paul, whose wife Jane was the original Executive Director of the Hawai'i Pacific Tennis Association, learned the game from their father Paul — maybe too well. Mel was so successful in open events his father asked him not to play anymore.

"He told him, 'You cannot keep winning,' " Paul Jr. recalled. "'You've got to let other people win.' "

Mel agreed and turned his athletic focus to golf at Waialae Country Club, where he was a member for 46 years. He still dabbled in tennis, playing well enough to earn Waialae's club championship with his brother and No. 1 rankings with partner Peter Balding in Jr. Vet/Senior age-group divisions.

Leong also worked with Connie Stevens — "Cricket" from the old Hawaiian Eye TV series — to stage celebrity tennis fundraisers here for many years. She would bring in stars such as Rowan and Martin, Jim Brown and former Tarzan, Ron Ely, and Leong would match them with local players in the exhibition.

"He was always someone I looked up to as a mentor, and wanted to follow in his footsteps," his brother Paul said. "I'll never forget his smile. He always told me never let the little things bother you. I live by that."

Leong earned his CPA certification when he returned to Hawai'i after his military service and married the late Juanita Wong. He married Kathleen Newkirk this February.

Mel worked for his father's firm, founded in 1944, specializing in tax and estate planning. Mel was still working, for what is now called Leong and Fong, when he died.

A "Celebration of Mel's Life" will be held tomorrow at Waialae. Friends can drop in from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with aloha attire requested.

Leong leaves behind daughters Robynne Howard, Cesily Kuriel and Melissa Talasaz; grandchildren Parker, Logen and Alexa Howard; mother Elizabeth; brother Paul; and sisters Melba Kop and Pamela Chun.

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com.