70% + GAMES

Judy Nelsen, Fort Wayne and Gary Chaney, Sherwood, OH — 70.50%  February 15

Charlene Millard, Gary and Edgar Lucas, Gary (49er game) — 70.00%  February 25

Michael and Mary Lou Clegg, Fort Wayne — 72.32%  February 25

Lou Nimnicht, Crown Point and Barbara Graegin, Dyer — 73.51%  March 3

Joe Chin, Highland and Al Simmons, Chicago — 70.83%  March 12

Manuel Silverman, Fort Wayne and Judy Nelsen, Fort Wayne — 74.09%  March 27

Elaine Delaney, South Bend and Frank Yoder, Goshen — 73.50%  March 27

Marian and Dennis David, South Bend — 70.31%  March 28

Richard Rhoad, Westerville OH and Gary Chaney, Sherwood OH — 71.06%  March 28


RISING IN THE RANKINGS

Junior Master: Beverly Peters, Fort Wayne; Ruth Swint, Fort Wayne; Karyl Amstutz. Hamilton; Kathy Bear, Fort Wayne; Phyllis Brooks, Michigan City; Rebecca Fastero, South Bend; Geri Maenhout, Mishawaka; Sandra Trass, Gary

Club Master: Madge Kollar, Chesterton; Jill Ross, Granger; Charles Spiher, South Bend; Donna Beach, Valparaiso; Loren Jackemeyer, Fremont; Mark Lee, Fort Wayne

Sectional Master: Ivye Benson, Michigan City; Judi Bishop, Marion; Alan Geller, Munster; Arnold Kiefer, Fort Wayne; Sharon Kolski, Elkhart; Barbara Nelson, South Bend

Regional Master: Charlotte Abernethy, Griffith; Barbara Adams, Auburn; Indra Gupta, Munster; Robert Hannah, Fort Wayne; Bonnie Merriman, Fort Wayne

Bronze Life Master: Jack Meyers, Fort Wayne

Gold Life Master: Donna Simon, South Bend


IN MEMORIAM

The bridge world lost a star on March 5 when Michael Slaven passed away.

Born on May 9, 1937, Mike spent his early years in Detroit, but the majority of his life was in Chicago. His career was as a manufacturing representative in the swimming pool business. Mike, already a life master, met his wife Lou Ann in 1972 at a bridge tournament in De Kalb IL.

He was pursuing a dream of being a grand life master — 9455 points and a national championship win had put him within close reach of this milestone. Another highlight of his bridge career included walking Mary Warden down the aisle when she married Phil Warden of Madison WI at a bridge tournament. Lou Ann and Mike were very involved with the running of CCBA, and she recalls one time when he hit her in the mouth with the microphone (accidentally, of course).

Mike's good friend, Jimmy Cordas, wrote the following letter, which we would like to share with you:

Hi Mike,

No one wonders how you are getting this letter. You are at the ultimate wireless place. I would prefer the more conventional method of sending it, but, as you recall, you weren't the most adept with computers. Good thing Marina was around to help. . .

Anyway I am sorry, truly sorry, that we didn't have more time to reminisce. Remember when you walked into the South Bend Bridge Club and we saw each other. Don't tell anybody, but Suzanne (Watson) and I felt like two exiles, or refugees, meeting on strange soil. We were both glad you were there.

We go back a long way — you and I. We met at the Cavendish Club, 22 W. Madison in Chicago, 6th floor, at least 30 years ago. I remember because it was the same floor that Patricia Stevens' Modeling Agency was located. I am sure you remember how we lingered by the elevators to watch the girls. . .

We talked about it not so long ago. . . it was one Friday night at the Cavendish when a big guy walked in with a gun in his hand and dark glasses. He made us all lie down — you remember that. He asked us to empty our pockets and put the money on the tables, then took all the money from the drawer and left. The next day we had to spend a couple of hours with a police artist sketching his face.

I remember when one of the players took you for 1100 on a hand and, later in the coffee room, asked you for a loan of $200. You gave it to him (he was a bridge teacher of sorts), and I recall that you did that more than once. Your home was the Slaven Inn where everybody and anybody could sack out, feast, and swim in the pool (even without clothes, poor people).

We even did some business together. It was when I was engaged in international trade and helped broker a deal for some Christmas lights from Taiwan. I was amazed at the amount of knowledge you had about details of world trade.

All of the bridge players in Chicago owe you and Lou Ann a big debt — at least, of gratitude. When you took over the effective directorship of the CCBA, it was a sclerotic, old organization and you gave it life. I still remember the parties in the hospitality suites during the tourneys.

One incident I won't forget is when this older man jokingly dropped a card on the floor and proceeded to bid 7NT and laughingly announced he only had 12 cards. Some stickler at the game had seen the card on the floor and demanded that the guy play the hand. You prevailed, knowing full well the man was joking.

I am keeping you on my list of friends on OK Bridge. Maybe I'll find a robot, but they don't exhibit the human hand-hoggishness you sometimes showed. Rather, it was courage.

Rest in peace my friend. You are missed, and you'll continue to be missed for a long time until we join you (unless we take the wrong turn at the fork of the road). I've been informed that where you are there are no deadlines or schedules because time is irrelevant. And even if the finesses don't work all the time, it won't bother you — you always liked the thrill of guessing stiff kings.

Good-bye dear friend.


ENJOYING BRIDGE AT 101

Charlie Cairns recently achieved the rank of Junior Master (5-20 mp). Charlie is special for several reasons, and one of them is because he is the oldest player in the Fort Wayne Bridge Club. Last August he celebrated his 101st birthday with us.

After graduating from high school Charlie did many things, including, but not limited to — serving in the US Army in World War II, assembling motors at International Harvester Co. in Fort Wayne, operating machines at Dudlow Manufacturing until the depression caused Dudlow to move to New York, harvesting sugar beets for $100/month, diagnosing machine malfunctions at a mine, building fish traps at a salmon cannery in Alaska, and labeling salmon on the docks in Seattle, WA. He also was a gandy dancer (maintaining railroad tracks manually), as well as a longshoreman (loading and unloading ships).

Charlie led an active life walking 5 miles every day and was an avid downhill skier. He played golf until he couldn’t see the ball anymore. He remembers playing basketball and being the high scorer in one game with the only point his team got.

Charlie started playing bridge when he was 80 years old. He went to the Senior Center in Seattle and learned to play. He had a difficult time getting partners because they didn't think he was good enough to play with them, but Charlie stuck with it and learned to play.

Charlie moved to Fort Wayne in August 2010 just before his 100th birthday to live with his sister, and that began his ACBL duplicate bridge career. He has vision problems and can't even see the big E on the eye chart, but he finds a way to see the cards most of the time. When he has trouble seeing them, we try to help him. His knees have given out, and hearing is difficult for him. But, no matter what, he is always good natured. We’re hoping to see the day when Charlie will become a Life Master.

Charlie was never married. Some at the bridge club think this added to his long life. He lives for bridge — there’s nothing he would rather do.


SPECIAL DAYS

February 20 marked the 90th birthday of Mary Haugseth (center in photo at left). South Bend President Joan Aldrich (left) and Club Manager Tricia Killeen (right) presented Mary with a bouquet of flowers, a cake and best wishes from all the club members.

Cathy Mason (left in photo at right), the oldest player in the Calumet Township Bridge Club, was 93 years old on March 24th. Barbara Stroud brought a beautiful cake to commemorate the occasion. The players signed a special card to express their congratulations and to wish her many more happy birthdays. Cathy is an inspiration to us all!
 
 $6000 DONATION

On behalf of Unit 154 a $6000 ACBL Charity check was presented to the Fort Wayne Community Harvest Food Bank. Gifts last year helped the food bank to distribute over 10,643,000 pounds of nutritious food to people in need throughout northeast Indiana.

In the photo are Richard Ellis, Secretary/Treasurer for Unit 154; Rebecca Aurand, Development Department Manager of Community Harvest Food Bank; and Michael Clegg, Unit 154 Area Representative from Fort Wayne.
 


 WINNERS  --  2011 UNIT 154 RACES

 Mini-McKenney

0 - 5 mp

Zafar Khan, Crown Point 58.85

Thomas Crisovan, South Bend 36.22

Lois Edelstein, Schererville 29.33

5 - 20 mp

Michael Heimann, North Webster 62.12           

JoEllen DePaepe, South Bend 28.52

Dana Kaminsky, Fort Wayne 21.24

20 - 50 mp

Charlotte Abernethy, Griffith 43.84

Richard Willson, Chokoloskee, FL 40.75

Mary Ann Filipiak, Michigan City 35.62

50 - 100 mp

Anna Urick, Hammond 73.46

Mary Adams, South Bend 59.49

Samuel McInturff, Fort Wayne 59.33

100 - 200 mp

Indra Gupta, Munster 87.22

E. Tim Carl, Elkhart 73.13

Kenneth Bisson, Angola 64.93

200 - 300 mp

Kimberly Grant, Fort Wayne 201.58

Ilse Grove, South Bend 105.55

Edmond Douville, Hobart 95.12

300 - 500 mp

Richard Bredemeyer, Fort Wayne 123.98

Trudi McKamey, Portage 102.53

Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton 92.88

500 - 1000 mp

Dave Bigler, Hobart 189.32

Patricia Valiska, Highland 173.76

Donald Valiska, Highland 142.39

1000 - 2500 mp

Richard Mao, Mishawaka 579.10

Bud Hinckley, South Bend 351.99

Steve Watson, Munster 281.18

2500 - 5000 mp

Elaine Delaney, South Bend 327.17

James Feinstein, South Bend 280.28

Joseph Chin, Highland 259.62

5000 - 7500 mp

John Chmielowiec, Michigan City 395.77

Frank Yoder, Goshen 290.73

James Davis, Kokomo 152.34

7500 - 10,000 mp

John Aumiller, Fort Wayne 286.61

Michael Slaven, Elkhart 266.42

Dave Fred, Granger 173.74

10,000 + mp

Howard Piltch, South Bend 765.08

Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne 80.56

  Ace of Clubs

0 - 5 mp

Zafar Khan, Crown Point 53.88

Thomas Crisovan, South Bend 32.84

Lois Edelstein, Schererville 27.70

5 - 20 mp

JoEllen DePaepe, South Bend 26.89

Mary Wisniewski, South Bend 20.14

Dana Kaminsky, Fort Wayne 13.56

20 - 50 mp

Richard Willson, Chokoloskee FL 39.41

Charlotte Abernethy, Griffith 30.47

Alan Filler, Highland 29.43

50 - 100 mp

Samuel McInturff, Fort Wayne 51.87

Anna Urick, Hammond 51.80

Dennis David, South Bend 51.37

100 - 200 mp

Indra Gupta, Munster 76.96

E. Tim Carl, Elkhart 55.17

Shirley Koch, Schererville 54.87

200 - 300 mp

Gregory Lyzun, South Bend 77.76

Kimberly Grant, Fort Wayne 77.45

Ilse Grove, South Bend 51.91

300 - 500 mp

Trudi McKamey, Portage 88.36

Richard Bredemeyer, Fort Wayne 73.34

Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton 71.69

500 - 1000 mp

Dave Bigler, Hobart 131.08

Patricia Valiska, Highland 119.41

Donald Valiska, Highland 105.32

1000 - 2500 mp

Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka 195.00

Lena Howard, Elkhart 165.46

Lou Nimnicht, Crown Point 162.22

2500 - 5000 mp

Elaine Delaney, South Bend 292.29

James Feinstein, South Bend 213.05

Irene Singleton, South Bend 208.83

5000 - 7500 mp

Frank Yoder, Goshen 219.83

John Chmielowiec, Michigan City 130.93

James Davis, Kokomo 66.63

7500 - 10,000 mp

Michael Slaven, Elkhart 185.48

John Aumiller, Fort Wayne 145.81

Dave Fred, Granger 87.70

10,000 + mp

Howard Piltch, South Bend 44.67

Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne 40.71

BARRY CRANE TOP 100  --  Unit 154 for 2011

      (Total masterpoints earned in 2011)

01. Howard Piltch, South Bend  --  765

02. Richard Mao, Mishawaka  --  579

03. John Chmielowiec, Michigan City  --  396             

04. Bud Hinckley, South Bend  --  352

05. Elaine Delaney, South Bend  --  327

06. Frank Yoder, Goshen  --  291

07. John Aumiller, Fort Wayne  --  287

08. Steven Watson, Munster  --  281

09. James Feinstein, South Bend  --  280

10. Michael Slaven, Elkhart  --  266

11. Joseph Chin, Highland  --  260

12. Tom Hallum, Mishawaka  --  246

13. Lena Howard, Elkhart  --  233

14. John Killeen, Mishawaka  --  232

15. Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka  --  231

16. Irene Singleton, South Bend  --  221

17. Lee Esworthy, The Villages FL -- 215

18. Lou Nimnicht, Crown Point  --  208

19. Kimberly Grant, Fort Wayne  --  202

20. Dave Bigler, Hobart,  --  189

21. Norman Szewczyk, Lansing IL 183

22. Daniel Simon, South Bend  --  180

23. Patricia Valiska, Highland  --  174

24. Dave Fred, Granger  --  174

25. Patty Fred, Granger  --  170

26. Cappy Gagnon, Notre Dame  --  168

27. Rosemary Zonker, Elkhart  --  166

28. Donald Ferguson, Fort Wayne  --  160

29. Sara Marcus, Granger  --  160

30. Marian David, South Bend  --  160

31. Leroy Boser, Elkhart  --  159

32. Howard Schmid, Merrillville  --  158

33. Jo Ann Steigmeyer, Granger  --  155

34. Al Fenton, Plymouth  --  154

35. Donna Simon, South Bend  --  153

36. James Davis, Kokomo  --  152

37. Bob Kellstrom, Chesterton  --  147

38. Donald Valiska, Highland  --  142

39. J. Cordas, South Bend  --  140

40. Brian Beecher, Merrillville  --  138

41. Rony Adelsman, South Bend  --  136

42. James O’Connell, Valparaiso  --  126

43. Chuck Briggs, Hobart  --  126

44. Richard Bredemeyer, Fort Wayne  --  124

45. David Hoevel, Fort Wayne  -- 118

46. Donald Wertheimer, South Bend  --  117

47. Rose Ferguson, Fort Wayne  --  107

48. Ilse Grove, South Bend  --  106

49. Trudi McKamey, Portage  --  103

50. Sara Grande, Mishawaka  --  102

51. Ruth Minish, Granger  --  102

52. Paul Scherer, Mishawaka  --  102

53. June Glazer, Elkhart  --  102

54. James Angell, Munster  --  101

55. Barbara Graegin, Dyer  --  100

56. Grant Van Horne, Auburn  --  100

57. Virginia Stipp, South Bend  --  99

58. Suzanne Watson, South Bend  --  98

59. Lee Knepper, Palmetto FL -- 98

60. Edmond Douville, Hobart  --  95

61. Thomas Carpenter, Fort Wayne  --  95

62. Chris Grande, Mishawaka  --  95

63. Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton  --  93

64. Peggy Kiernan, Schererville  --  91

65. Teen Robertson, Mishawaka  --  91

66. Constance Stevens, Highland  --  89

67. Barbara Walczak, Munster  --  88

68. Opal Jost, South Bend  --  88

69. Robert Adams, South Bend  --  88

70. Victor Papai, South Bend  --  88

71. Indra Gupta, Munster  --  87

72. Gregory Lyzun, South Bend  --  86

73. David McNitt, Elkhart  --  86

74. Richard Hastings, Bristol  --  86

75. Richard Klitzke, South Bend  --  85

76. Sally Landrum, Marion  --  84

77. K. Koorsen, Fort Wayne  --  82

78. Mary Lou Clegg, Fort Wayne  --  82

79. Earl Landrum, Marion  --  81

80. Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne  --  81

81. Michael Clegg, Fort Wayne  --  80

82. Virginia Peterson, Plymouth  --  79

83. Karsten Grove, South Bend  --  78

84. Marci Meyer, Long Beach  --  75

85. Anna Urick, Hammond  --  73

86. E. Tim Carl, Elkhart  --  73

87. Byron Parshall, Mishawaka  --  70

88. Patricia Borchert, Elkhart  --  70

89. Keith Meyer, Long Beach  --  70

90. Marsha Hosinski, South Bend 68

91. Maureen Trubac, Granger  --  68

92. Christine Barker, Granger  --  68

93. Hugh Metzger, South Bend  --  66

94. Rosemary Shafer, South Bend  --  66

95. Kenneth Bisson, Angola  --  65

96. Charles Schultz, La Porte  --  63

97. Hilda Connor, Munster  --  62

98. Michael Heimann, North Webster  --  62

99. Richard Ellis, Kokomo  --  62

100. Geoffrey Hadlock, Winona Lake  --  61