New Life Master: Julie Kelley

Julie grew up in Colorado and attended the Colorado State University. Lured by the chance to earn a living and travel, Julie became a stewardess for United Airlines for the next two and a half years. Julie then meet her future husband and moved to Fox River Valley area of northeastern Illinois.  She has resided in this area for the last forty-six years, where she and her husband raised three children, which included two girls and a boy.  Her three children still live in the area and Julie now enjoys the company of her eight grandchildren.

Julie said that she began playing bridge in high school, but it wasn’t until ten years ago she took a serious interest in the game. She and a friend decided to try playing in an Aurora game and Julie said she was completely lost.  After taking three years of lessons first from Eli Scalzo and then from Betty Wade, Julie finally decided she was ready to play competitive duplicate bridge. Since then, Julie has earned the required points to become a life master.  Julie earned this honor last fall, but it was two weeks after she won the needed silver points at a St. Charles STAC game that she realized she had met all the point requirements. 

Julie credits Harold Legel as being a good partner and her mentor. Her suggestion to others: “Don’t worry about becoming a life master, but concentrate on becoming a good bridge player."  As an opponent of Julie on Thursdays in Elgin, I would say Julie has followed her advice well.  When Julie not playing bridge, she might be at her home either putting a jigsaw puzzle or a quilt together.

The Changing Scene

New Junior Masters:  Tanya Berley, North Aurora;  Janice Koerner, Huntley;  Linda Murphey, Rockford; Audrey Williams, Rockford;  Georgia Jacobsen, Huntley.

New Club Masters: George Hess, Galena;  Diana Jacobsen,  Montgomery;  Nels Jacobsen, Montgomery;  Carolyn Rosene, St Charles;  Patricia Tangorra, Rockford

New Sectional Masters: Eugene Gordon, Aurora;  Linda Brubaker,Geneva;  Dorothy Schoonover, Cherry Valley.

New Regional Masters: Robert Judd, Algonquin.

New Life Masters: Lynn Patterson, Lake in the Hills.

New Bronze Life Master:  Richard Murdock;  Glen DeVries, Aurora.

Upcoming tournaments

Gatlinburg TN Regional -- April 13 to April 19

District 13 Regional -- Lake Geneva WI -- April 20 to April 26

Pioneer Sectional -- Hendelmeyer Park, Effingham IL -- April 24 to April 26

District 8 Grand National Teams – Springfield IL -- May 2 and 3

299er Stars of Tomorrow -- Rolling Meadows IL -- May 2 to May 3

St. Charles MO Sectional -- Blanchette Park -- May 15 to 17

Illini Memorial Day Regional -- Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign IL -- May 19 to May 25