After being a widow for 2 years, I met Charles Stevens who became widowed 2 years after we met. Among other things, Charles was a bridge player. He had had a hiatus of 20+ years and, now that he was semi-retired, he was playing more often. He would describe hands he had played hours ago and sometimes days ago. I was so interested that, when I found a new Sheinwold’s 35 days to Winning Bridge (the cover had been removed and the book cost $.50) at the local farmer’s market book stand, I purchased it. As I read it, I became more intrigued, called the local bridge club and took a few lessons. After the last lesson, we drew straws for partners and then played in the novice game. Imagine my surprise and delight upon learning my partner and I came in 1st. I was HOOKED! The next novice game was 2 weeks hence. I agreed to play and the director would arrange for a partner.
Doug Ober was the partner. He had learned to play on the computer and, I believe, I was the first person with whom he played. We shared a passion for the game as well as the desire to get the fundamentals (Bridge 101 I called it) down pat. He was my 1st steady partner and played together for 3+ years. We played in the twice monthly novice game, improved and then played weekly in the regular game He often said “Trust is a must or your bowling game is a bust. Trust each other and play as a partnership we did.
Charles invited me to go with him to Raffles—he to play and me to kibitz. He felt that by listening to the bidding, watching declarer and defensive play I would gain a bit more knowledge. I kibitzed Elsie, his partner. She was a lovely, feisty lady who would say “Come and get me” when she was declarer. Before her LHO or Charles would play a card, she had a card detached from a suit and 98% of the time it was the right suit and card. I was amazed. The next time I went to Raffles; again to kibitz, the wonderful Sue Raffles arranged a partner for me. I protested that I was willing to kibitz but she pleasantly and kindly insisted that I play. I don’t remember much of what happened that day but do know my poor, suffering partner graciously explained the WHY of what I did or should not have done. Those Sundays were mentoring or Pro/Am games for me. I learned something every time—much of which I still remember. To this day, I am grateful to Sue Raffles and miss her very much.
Doug, Charles and I studied conventions—one at a time and, when we understood it “upside down, inside out and backwards” we would add it to our convention card then go on to another one. Charles and I married but Doug and I remained steady partners until his job was changed and he didn’t have the time to play. Charles became my 2nd steady and most favorite partner. Our partnership lasted 9+ years. We traveled all over the United States, Canada, Mexico as well as a few other countries—sightseeing, visiting, and playing in local games or tournaments.
In Georgia we met a couple who asked us to play in Knock Outs. Not knowing what they were, Charles declined. Once we learned about them and met other couples who asked us to play, we did. We won Flight C Knock Outs in 2 Regionals with couples we met. This helped us win almost all our needed gold.
My passion for bridge continued. Charles referred to me as his bridgeaholic. Tournaments are exciting. We played against some of the great bridge players and met people with whom we arranged to visit or play with in other tournaments.
After Charles died, I continued to play in local clubs and some tournaments. This helped the grief process. One day a novice asked me to play. As I enjoy playing and am willing to play with anyone, I agreed. I wanted to share whatever knowledge I had and to give back. I had played with excellent players in Philadelphia and asked better players in Reading to play with me at least once. They did and shared their knowledge with me which was much appreciated. Carl Cronrath, the novice, became my 3rd steady partner. Like Doug, he had a passion for bridge, desire to learn and understand the game. We played together for about 6 years in local clubs and tournaments. I was already an EasyBridge presenter and an ACBL Accredited Teacher. We also became directors, started a game endeavoring to reach new players and incorporate them into the bridge world. I directed and he taught. The last game I directed had 16 tables. How gratifying! Carl has retired and is now managing a club in Fla.
One of the most moving moments in my bridge life to this point was the fact that two of our players won the Flight C NAP. They were sent to St Louis to play in the Nationals. One of the pair, Betsy Kunkleman, took lessons from us and played in most every game. I don’t think she will mind if I mention that she was 78 or so when she started with us and never played bridge a day in her life.
It is with abundant gratitude that I thank my 3 steady partners as well as the many other partners I have had over the years. Some have passed on but many remain. I can’t name them all but I sincerely enjoyed each and every game in which I ever played with them.

It took me a year to achieve Junior Master status. I started playing in sanctioned games with my partner and we always came in last . . . for many months. It seemed like we would never climb out of the cellar against such great players. Then one day we found ourselves in the middle of the pack – that was a huge victory for us! A few months after that we came in first, we squealed with delight when the winners were announced (very unprofessional of us) but others shared our joy knowing how hard we had been trying. We had been taking lessons for about two years and playing against people who had been partners for 30 years. Our first victory was the result of good defense as we didn’t have great cards that night. Perseverance is what I would recommend to anyone who is trying to gain master points. At least that’s what worked for me!

I first played bridge in 1997 after my father and father-in-law both passed away. We wanted an activity we could do with our mothers.So we took night-school classes of bridge. Those classes gave us the basic skills to be able to play social bridge.
However, I only played for a few years. Other than our mothers, not many people I knew actually played bridge.

Then in the summer of 2014 some friends mentioned they were taking bridge lessons from a great teacher in Ocean View. I’ll have to admit I was a bit skeptical about taking lessons. Why would I need lessons? How hard could bridge be? I knew the basics. What else would there be to learn?

However, I decided to try these lesson. What a huge awakening! First of all, Dini Romito is a fantastic bridge teacher! She knows her stuff and presents it in a fun and challenging way. I am still amazed at all she knows and all I have yet to learn. She is kind, encouraging and very supportive!

In October of 2014 she suggested I join the ACBL. I had started playing duplicate in Ocean View and Rehoboth Beach, DE. She didn’t want me to lose the points I had earned.
I’ve had some wonderful partners who have helped me along the way. I didn’t earn those points by myself. Everyone I’ve partnered with has been kind and willing to share their knowledge and love of the game.

I have become obsessed with learning more and more about bridge. My bridge library currently contains 14 books. I read a little from one book, then switch to another, gathering information from well known experts.

One of the things I love about bridge is that you continue to learn every time you play. I still make lots of mistakes. However, I am starting to see them as I make them. Now I need to work at seeing them before I make them!

I never dreamed I would have so much fun and enjoyment from playing bridge.

Jane Ball – Gold Life Master

It has been fun. Some of the highlights are:
• My favorite partner getting deported.
• Driving the wrong way on the turnpike – thank you, Daisy.
• Getting a police escort when we were lost and late for a sectional.
• Taking Hugh Kelsey to brunch at the country club.
• Caddying when Terence Reese was playing.
• Getting rear-ended in Seattle with the English ladies bridge team in the back of the car.
• It is exciting to watch someone as brilliant as Meyer start to swing when he decides we need some good results.
• Losing a partner when I told her the double was ‘do something intelligent’. She took it personally.
• Retiring from bridge at 18 when I realized none of the bridge players in the bar at The London School of Economics ever graduated.
• Playing with a pickup partner at Lancaster and getting him his first gold points when Bobby Levin opened 1NT with a singleton, giving us a top on the last board.

I am surprised by how much I am enjoying teaching bridge. We have fun and laugh a lot. Easier to teach adults bridge than to teach adolescent boys math on a Friday afternoon.

One of the memorable things was playing on bbo with Jerry Blumenthal when he was in Jefferson for several months. It was a lifeline to the world. As sick as he was he sometimes played 55 boards in a day. We ‘talked’ even when we didn’t play.

My next goal is playing in the platinum pairs.