Bill and I started playing Bridge in the 1960s – our first hobby together. We discovered Bridge was a great way to meet people and develop friendships. We enjoyed party Bridge until we were invited to play in a Duplicate Club. It was then Bill decided we were moving on to Duplicate.

Upon our retirement in 2000 the Farquhars introduced us to ACBL and bidding boxes! They took us to Dini’s game and we met Southern Delaware’s Bridge Ambassador. It wasn’t long before we formed a partnership with the Coars and hit the road in the hope of earning the coveted title of Life Master. In less than four years we logged many miles, met lots of nice people and earned that Life Master designation. We were encouraged by Joe Botkin and Kim Kvalnes in District 6 to become certified Directors and form a club and give back to the game. Around 2005 we took a break from Bridge to enjoy our outdoor hobbies: golf, hiking, biking and yard work. After a five-year break and slowing down physically it was time to return to playing Bridge – the hobby that we started when we were first married. As we began earning points we set our sights on Bronze Life Master. We looked forward to our weekly outing to stimulate our brains and, of course, meet new people…the reason we started playing Bridge back in the 1960s. We did not expect to earn over 200 points so quickly but we’ve had fun doing it. I remember telling Dini that Bridge was the best thing for our marriage because we had to improve our communication.

Looking back, Bridge has always been an important part of our life and the hobby that we have enjoyed all of our married life. We are grateful to ACBL and Districts 4 and 6.

My life as a bridge player began in the late 1970’s in Hawaii. My late husband learned bridge in the military and I wanted to learn to play so we would have something to do in our old age. I took beginner lessons from Edith Neff, a long time director in Kialua, HI.

One of the first games at the club I had 6 hearts and my partner had 7 hearts. I did not realize much later how unusual that was. I did not join ACBL until my husband died in 2005 at age 62. I went to my first regional several years later in Charlotte, NC. My partner had over 750 pts. and needed only one gold point to become a life master. I had a total of 17 points. She found us a team (man & wife) who were directors in Hickory, NC. We won over 6 gold points. with a hand where my partner opened 2C with 19 points. I had an excellent hand and eventually I bid 6NT. The opponents were a relay team (fresh team filling in for the tired opponents). The lead was an advantage for my partner who maintained a poker face throughout. They won 1 trick and then played another card that helped the declarer. We made it and the other table bid 3NT making 5NT. Jane, my partner who was in her 80’s cried as he called her husband. What a day for her!

I moved to MO in 2009 and at the bridge club in Springfield MO I met my second husband. He was an excellent player making LM in only 3 yrs. We went to Gatlinbrug,TN in April 2012 where we won 19.85 points in 3 days. 14 were gold. I got the rest of my gold in Council Bluff shortly after. My total points were only 162 points so it took me another 2 1/2 years to get the black I needed to make LM. My 2nd husband passed away in Mar 2013. We played bridge 3 days before he died and won. He told me we needed to win big or not place because he had around 665 points and did not want to get a score that was 666. He died having 668 master points. Thanks goodness. When he died the bridge club provided the meal at his funeral and were such a support to me when I needed it.

I now live in PA and enjoy a duplicate group here at Willow Valley. There are many good players that helped me attain bronze LM. Life is good.

I started playing bridge in college over 50 years ago, played online on and off. When I retired I decided to try my local bridge club at the JCC in Wilkes Barre just to have some fun. In the past fifteen months I have made many new friends and learned a lot about bridge but I have a long way to go. I would like to thank George Marcy, Beth Rosenthal and George Mansour for their guidance and help in learning the game. I look forward to years of fun and competition.