A friend of mine called me in the winter of 1996 asking me if I would go to bridge lessons with her. Now, I had played pinochle in college (and spent so much time playing it instead of attending classes, that I could probably have earned a degree in it), but knew nothing about bridge (I actually thought it was for old ladies with big hats and maybe winos). Having a life-long problem of saying “no” to people, I agreed to go with her to a Senior Center (which was exactly where I knew it would be taking place). Of course, after being there about twenty minutes, I was hooked.
My friend and I decided, after a few months of taking lessons, to try the big time, and showed up at a local duplicate game. A player came over and introduced herself and asked how long we had been playing. We said only a few months, but we thought we played a good game and beat everyone at the “Senior Center”. She laughed and said, “well, you will not come in first here and it will be a very long time before you beat players here at our club”. Well, she was wrong….we came in third that first night and thought, this is easy, and not as intimidating as we imagined. Well, she was also right….we came in last after that first night, for months. I was working full time so didn’t get much time in at the bridge table, but kept at it whenever I could.
About two years later, the women who owned the club asked me to sit for the director’s test. Soon after, she became sickly and gave up ownership. One of the members took charge, incorporated, and the club, The Cape May County Duplicate Bridge, became a club owned by its members. He was President for two three year terms and then asked me to take over. I am presently on my 4th three year term.
I enjoy the game, the competition and the people. In 2003, I entered our club in the One-Star Club competition and won. I have enjoyed planning parties for all the holidays and starting a yearly club newsletter and website. I have been fortunate enough to play in bridge in Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Mesa, Las Vegas and Italy.

I started playing bridge as a 12-year old, with my twin sister and parents. During my 31-year Army career, there were many years without bridge in my life, but when I retired in September 2004, a friend recommended Dotty Ehling’s club in Warminster; and I joined the ACBL in February 2005. For the first 4 years, I never entered a gold-point event, which I regret now, but no one told me to start collecting gold early – the advice I got was: enter the lowest event possible at the tournaments. Gold points were slow in coming: 1.53 here, 2.90 there, until I only needed 0.08 for Life Master, even though I had a total of 650 points. Finally we got that one big win at the 2016 King of Prussia tournament (9.94 gold) which pushed us way over the top (thank you Carolyn and Sheldon Per). Most of my gold was earned with Dave Hallman, and most of my silver with Jean Harney. I have both partners to thank, along with my parents who got me started.

I played bridge in graduate school and for a short time after I joined Du Pont in 1963 until I was transferred from Wilmington. In 2013 my wife expressed interest in learning the game and took lessons at the Bridge Center of Delaware County. I joined her in the lessons the next year and we began playing with friends in Delaware. They mentioned their beneficial experience with the Bridge Studio of Delaware so I signed up for their Intermediate Lessons in September 2015 even though I live in Pennsylvania. Starting this year I began playing in games at the studio and to accumulate points. I am very pleased and impressed with the principals, teachers and volunteers at the Studio for the quality of the training and the friendly and open atmosphere. I also commend the District for the mentoring program that is being held this summer. I am impressed as are the other newer players at the thoughtful guidance and helpfulness of our mentors as well as their willingness to participate. I recommend that the program be continued on an as needed basis.