NEW MEMBERS

Mary Ann Filipiak, Michigan City; Carol Miller, Valparaiso; George Rebraca, Munster; Janet Troeger, Granger

RISING IN THE RANKINGS

Junior Masters: Douglas Jordan, Dyer; Sharon Snyder, Crown Point; William Peters, Fort Wayne

Club Masters: Joshua Baiel, Wheatfield; Anna Urick, Hammond

Sectional Masters: Dennis Sharp, Milford; Mary Adams, South Bend; Lillian Armentrout, Roanoke; Margaret Blauvelt, Fort Wayne; Shirley Koch, Schererville; Patricia Laing, South Bend; Carol Logan, Fort Wayne

Regional Masters: Gregory Lyzun, South Bend; Elaine Thompson, South Bend; Maureen Trubac, Granger

NABC Masters: Trudi McKamey, Portage; Suzanne Gerhold, South Bend

Life Master: Jennifer Koorsen, Fort Wayne

Silver Life Masters: Rita Duncan, Somerset; Thomas Carpenter, Fort Wayne

Gold Life Master: Virginia Stipp, South Bend

70% + GAMES

Dave Bigler, Hobart and Bob Kellstrom, Chesterton — 72.22% -- February 17

Trudi McKamey, Ogden Dunes and Dolores Keller, Valparaiso — 70.00% -- March 2

Jim O’Connell, Valparaiso and Bob Kellstrom, Chesterton — 74.00% -- March 4

70% + Games from South Bend

49ers:  Ivye Ewing and Claire White — 73.81%

199ers:  Norm Muller and Jim Fitzpatrick — 77.38%
   George Cramer and Bill Blauvelt — 75.00%
   Joseph Maguire and John Fremeau — 70.63%

299ers:  Sherie Kolski and Phil Kolski — 71.53%

Open Pairs

Richard Mao and James Feinstein — 72.73%

Fred Binder and Byron Parshall — 72.22%

Sara Grande and Chris Grande — 72.08%

Philip Slatt and Donald Wertheimer — 71.88%

Lena Howard and James Feinstein — 71.73%

Marian David and Irene Singleton — 71.72%

Howard Piltch and Bud Hinckley — 71.36%

Ladora Sloan and James Feinstein — 71.30%

Tim DeLaney and Elaine DeLaney — 70.37%

Ruth Minish and Joan Tobler — 70.36%

Marian David and James Feinstein — 70.19% 

ACE OF CLUBS STANDINGS — 2009 — UNIT 154

0 - 5 — Indra Gupta, Dennis David, Samuel McInturff

5 - 20 — Kimberly Grant, Jim Fitzpatrick, Julie Nelson

20 - 50 — August Tomusk, Shirley Koch, Norm Muller

50 - 100 — Gregory Lyzun, Karen Drain, Judy Grambo

100 - 200 — Peg Kiernan, Ilse Grove, Maureen Trubac

200 - 300 — Richard Bredmeyer, Phillip Kolski, Alfred Prus

300 - 500 — Dave Bigler, Richard Hastings, Pat Valiska

500 - 1000 — Cappy Gagnon, Barbara Walczak, Ruth Minish

1000 - 2500 — Patricia Killeen, Lena Howard, John Killeen

2500 - 5000 — James Feinstein, Elaine Delaney, Irene Singleton

5000 - 7500 — James David, Richard Ellis

7500 - 10,000 — John Aumiller, Michael Slaven, Dean Duncan

Over 10,000 — Howard, Piltch, Bob Carteaux

MINI-McKENNEY STANDINGS — 2009 — UNIT 154

0 - 5 — Indra Gupta, Dennis David, Samuel McInturff

5 - 20 — Kimberly Grant, Jim Fitzpatrick, Julie Nelson

20 - 50 — August Tomusk, Patrick Oetting, Shirley Koch

50 - 100 — Gregory Lyzun, Sally Landrum, Earl Landrum

100 - 200 — Peggy Kiernan, Ilse Grove, Joan Aldrich

200 - 300 — Richard Bredmeyer, Phillip Kolski, Alfred Prus

300 - 500 — Dave Bigler, Pat Valiska, Richard Hastings

500 - 1000 — Cappy Gagnon, Thomas Carpenter, Ruth Minish

1000 - 2500 — Steve Watson, Lena Howard, Bud Hinckley

2500 - 5000 — James Feinstein, Carol Mahoney, Joe Chin

5000 - 7500 — James Davis, Richard Ellis

7500 - 10,000 — John Aumiller, Michael Slaven, Dean Duncan

over 10,000 — Howard Piltch, Bob Carteaux

NEWS FROM FORT WAYNE

Jennifer Koorsen is Fort Wayne’s newest Life Master. She played in a Regional at Hilton Head, SC in a knockout with Joe Shull. Tom Kelly and Jennifer’s husband, Ken Koorsen, were the other half of the team. Jennifer got the gold points that she needed. It was the first event the team played in, and they came in first.

The following comments were contributed by Joe Shull, Jennifer’s partner. “Our strategy was for Jennifer and me to play straight down the middle and take what was ours and let Ken and Tom worry about catching up, if necessary. We won mainly because Ken kept putting Tom in games and he made them all (seven games bid and made in 12 hands). Poor Tom was so exhausted that he didn’t play the next day. We just went out to eat for a celebration at a nearby club on the bay. 

“After we won the 1st championship Jennifer made Life Master. On our way to the hospitality room we saw Jeff Meckstroth, and Jennifer told him she made LM for which he congratulated her. She told him to be sure and tell Eric. Jeff said he would.

“There’s a little back story here. Jennifer had met Jeff at the Fort Wayne regional while they were both out smoking, and Jennifer, being Jennifer, asked him if he ever dreamed that he would be a big bridge star when he was young. He said that he had wanted to be a golf star when he was young. So they did have a ‘history’.”

Jennifer is in the front of the photo. The bald player in the painting, who is the partner of the person in the mirror, is Ken. Tom Kelly is the person you can see in the mirror. The painting is in Jennifer’s and Ken’s kitchen. Tom Kelly is the artist.

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Fort Wayne Duplicate Bridge Club is purchasing 20 Bridge Mate 2's for computerized scoring. The manufacturer didn't have any available, so the players are anxiously awaiting their arrival.


NEWS FROM THE SOUTH BEND BRIDGE CLUB

We are very proud of our South Bend Bridge Club. We have over 160 members, 10 sanctioned games over 7 days a week (Saturday just recently added), a wonderful teaching staff, a lovely playing facility, a very active Board of Directors, and a website (www.bridgescore.com/sbbc) where players can find their scores, classes being offered, and a calendar of upcoming events. Some recent additions include a TV monitor mounted on the wall where players can see final scores entered without having to hover over the director, rearrangement of 20+ tables allowing room for novices and more seasoned players to play in two separate sections at the facility, and a very special “Wall” erected to honor people who have attained another level in bridge.

The “Wall” was an idea espoused by John Killeen and embraced by the Board members. The actual construction of the “Wall” was by Tom Hebron with help from our President, Paul Silberman. John Killeen and his wife, Tricia, did the information gathering so that Jo Ann Steigmeyer could put together the artwork to be placed in the separate frames embedded in the Wall. These frames list the honorees and their accomplishments. In between these honored spots Jo Ann has placed pictures of antique playing cards and, at the top of the Wall, Tom created a wooden replica of the ACBL logo and The South Bend Bridge Club in wooden script. What a wonderful addition to the bridge center’s decor!

The people in the photo who were the creators of the wall are: seated (left to right) — Paul Silberman and Victor Papai. Standing (left to right) are — Tom Hebron, John Killeen and Jo Ann Steigmeyer.

Our teaching program has brought many new members to the club and has enhanced the play of the game for veteran players. Right now we have an Advanced Defense Class presented by Tim DeLaney, a Beginning Class with Tricia Killeen, an Intermediate Class with Jo Ann Steigmeyer, an Advanced Class taught by Irene Singleton, and an ongoing class and sanctioned game combination especially for 49ers - 499ers given by Elaine DeLaney.
 

Martha Hosinski was caught unawares when she walked in to the Bridge Club on January 4th and found members singing Happy Birthday to celebrate her 90th Birthday. 

Richard Mao, a member of the SBBC, serenaded her with his bagpipes which made for an unforgettable day. Martha is one of the most “UP” persons in the club and we were delighted to have surprised her! All the members signed a book with personal wishes.
 


BARRY CRANE TOP 500

Following are the top 100 masterpoint winners from Unit 154 in 2009.

 1. Howard Piltch, South Bend IN -- 612

 2. Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne IN -- 536

 3. James Feinstein, South Bend IN -- 392

 4. Carol Mahoney, Kokomo IN -- 346

 5. John Aumiller, Fort Wayne IN -- 322

 6. Joseph Chin, Highland IN -- 318

 7. Elaine Delaney, South Bend IN -- 308

 8. Steven Watson, Munster IN -- 300

 9. Michael Slaven, Elkhart IN -- 265

 10. Cappy Gagnon, Notre Dame IN -- 261

 11. Lena Howard, Elkhart IN -- 252

 12. Bud Hinckley, South Bend IN -- 242

 13. Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 228

 14. John Killeen, Mishawaka IN -- 226

 15. Louis Nimnicht, Crown Point IN -- 212

 16. Donald Wertheimer, South Bend IN -- 212

 17. Dave Bigler, Hobart IN -- 212

 18. John Chmielowiec, Michigan City IN -- 198          

 19. Irene Singleton, South Bend IN -- 191

 20. Leroy Boser, Elkhart IN -- 176

 21. Rosemary Zonker, Elkhart IN -- 173

 22. Charles Clarke, South Bend IN -- 172

 23. Bob Kellstrom, Chesterton IN -- 172

 24. Daniel Simon, South Bend IN -- 171

 25. Marian David, South Bend IN -- 169

 26. Howard Schmid, Merrillville IN -- 169

 27. Donna Simon, South Bend IN -- 169

 28. Frank Yoder III, Goshen IN -- 168

 29. Sara Marcus, Granger IN -- 166

 30. Dean Duncan, Mishawaka IN -- 161

 31. James Davis, Kokomo IN -- 146

 32. Richard Bredemeyer, Fort Wayne IN -- 141

 33. Chris Grande, Mishawaka IN -- 139

 34. Sara Grande, Mishawaka IN -- 139

 35. Jo Ann Steigmeyer, Granger IN -- 138

 36. Thomas Carpenter, Fort Wayne IN -- 137

 37. Ruth Minish, Granger IN -- 130

 38. Ronald Peterson, Plymouth IN -- 130

 39. Virginia Peterson, Plymouth IN -- 130

 40. Chuck Briggs, Hobart IN -- 129

 41. Timothy Delaney, South Bend IN -- 129

 42. Paul Scherer, Mishawaka IN -- 128

 43. Patricia Valiska, Highland IN -- 126

 44. Richard Hastings, Bristol IN -- 126

 45. J. Cordas, South Bend IN -- 126

 46. Barbara Walczak, Munster IN -- 125

 47. Donald Ferguson, Fort Wayne IN -- 124

 48. Norman Szewczyk, Lansing IL -- 124

 49. David Hoevel, Fort Wayne IN -- 123

 50. Virginia Stipp, South Bend IN -- 122

 51. James O'Connell, Valparaiso IN -- 121

 52. Manuel Silverman, Fort Wayne IN -- 119

 53. Dave Fred, Granger IN -- 119

 54. James Angell, Munster IN -- 117

 55. Donald Groch, South Bend IN -- 106

 56. Mary Lou Clegg, Fort Wayne IN -- 105

 57. Margaret Kiernan, Schererville IN -- 104

 58. David McNitt, Elkhart IN -- 101

 59. Gregory Lyzun, South Bend IN -- 95

 60. Teen Robertson, Mishawaka IN -- 95

 61. Suzanne Watson, South Bend IN -- 95

 62. Barbara Graegin, Dyer IN -- 91

 63. Phillip Kolski, Elkhart IN -- 90

 64. Rosemary Shafer, South Bend IN -- 89

 65. Louise Tickfer, Granger IN -- 89

 66. Mrs. M. C. Knepper, Palmetto FL -- 88

 67. Victor Papai, South Bend IN -- 88

 68. Sally Landrum, Marion IN -- 88

 69. Earl Landrum, Marion IN -- 88

 70. Karen Drain, South Bend IN -- 87

 71. Richard Mao, Mishawaka IN -- 86

 72. Michael Clegg, Fort Wayne IN -- 85

 73. Constance Stevens, Highland IN -- 84

 74. Larry O'Maley, Fort Wayne IN -- 83

 75. John Scheibelhut, Notre Dame IN -- 83

 76. Rose Ferguson, Fort Wayne IN -- 83

 77. John Hamilton, Palm City FL -- 82

 78. Robert Adams, South Bend IN -- 82

 79. Martha Hosinski, South Bend IN -- 79

 80. Rita Duncan, Somerset IN -- 78

 81. Ilse Grove, South Bend IN -- 78

 82. Opal Jost, South Bend IN -- 77

 83. Byron Parshall, Mishawaka IN -- 77

 84. Paul Graegin, Dyer IN -- 76

 85. Richard Ellis Jr., Kokomo IN -- 75

 86. Joan Aldrich, South Bend IN -- 74

 87. Philip Slatt, South Bend IN -- 74

 88. Jack Spring, Fort Wayne IN -- 74

 89. Christine Barker, Granger IN -- 73

 90. Sandy Craft, Fort Wayne IN -- 73

 91. Joseph Shull, New Haven IN -- 73

 92. Sharon Novotny, Granger IN -- 72

 93. Patricia Borchert, Elkhart IN -- 72

 94. Patty Fred, Granger IN -- 71

 95. Grant Van Horne, Auburn IN -- 70

 96. Indra Gupta, Munster IN -- 70

 97. Charles Schultz, La Porte IN -- 69

 98. Trudy McKamey, Portage IN -- 69

 99. Barbara Medlock, Granger IN -- 68

100. Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton IN -- 67

SILVER LIFE MASTER — TOM CARPENTER

Tom Carpenter started playing duplicate at the Fort Wayne club seven years ago. He had previously played noontime bridge at work for many years.

He has been playing duplicate almost exclusively in Fort Wayne at Fort Wayne Duplicate Bridge Club. Over the years, he played in three Indiana non-Fort Wayne sectionals and one national. The national was in New Orleans, where he received the gold points required for Life Master level.

Tom’s early mentor, Dick Sullivan, was instrumental in advancing his bridge skills and enjoyment of the game. He enjoys partnering with many different partners and helping newer players at the club. The Fort Wayne Duplicate Bridge Club’s friendly players and atmosphere continue to make playing duplicate bridge a pleasurable pastime.

Tom was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was an engineering manager and system engineer, retired from Magnavox/Raytheon in Fort Wayne. Family time remains his highest priority. He is married to his wife, Bonnie, for 48 years. He has three children — Billy (deceased), Susan, and Christa and two grandchildren.

Congratulations, Tom, on earning 1000 masterpoints in a short seven years!