New Life Masters

Doug St. John

Doug St. John is a regular player at the Rockford Bridge Club, as well as, the director of the Tuesday and Thursday evening open stratified games. Doug has played with a host of partners including Dick Gierat and his wife Lynn. Needing just seven tenths of a silver point, Doug earned his Life Masters rank at the summer Rockford Sectional.

Doug was born in Detroit, Michigan; lived in Connecticut from ages 6 to 15, and then moved back to Michigan. After high school, Doug became a Wolverine majoring in advertising and also participated in the R.O.T.C. program at the university. Graduating from Michigan State, Doug entered the Army as an officer and did a tour of duty in South Korea.

The St. John Family includes wife Lynn and two married daughters, Kristen who lives in Lisle, Illinois and Dana who lives in Seattle, Washington. Doug and Lynn also are the proud grandparents of one grandson. To support his family, Doug made good use of his college degree by working in marketing for twelve Redwood Ross Clothing Stores. The family has resided in Rockford since 1984.

Doug related an interesting hand he and his partner were defending against Lu and Dave Jenkins. The contract was 5 clubs doubled. Doug said “bridge is a very interesting and frustrating game”, because the Jenkins made the contract with having a total of only17 high card points. “ It is a wonderful game” pretty much summarizes Doug’s attitude towards the playing of bridge.

Doug’s other interests include playing golf, listening to jazz, enjoying a book, or doing home maintenance. One recent high light of the St. John family included a one-week get to getter of the daughters, son-in-laws, and grandson, in the Napa Valley Wine Region of California. Doug is a positive and pleasant bridge player, both with his partners and the opponents.

Linda Shaw

Linda Shaw our second new life master grew up in Kent, Ohio. A graduate of Kent State University, Linda majored in Economics. After getting her degree, Linda worked for Stouffers Foods, until her marriage to James her now deceased husband. The Shaw family now includes four child, Clay, Betty, Bret, and Scott, the first two being married, and 5 grandchildren. Linda said it is really nice that all her family lives in the local area.

Linda plays at three bridge centers weekly, Geneva on Tuesdays, Aurora on Wednesdays, and Elgin on Thursdays. Linda earned her Life Masters in an unusual way. She was scheduled to a play team knock-outs with her partner John Kinst at the Lake Geneva Regional this summer. The other partnership comprising the team had an illness and wasn’t able to attend the regional. John and Linda elected to enter the open pairs competition with another 196 competitors. Linda said, “John being superstitious wanted to play east-west”, but they were lucky as a late entry to get into the tournament playing north-south. After two days of playing, and the dust had settled, John and Linda took first place and earned 14.5 gold points each. This win gave Linda the needed gold points to earn the title of Life Master.

Linda’s advice to her fellow bridge players is to respect your partner, don’t get upset with a bad plays, and after the hand is done “it is behind you like a dogs tail”. Linda’s current partners include Dorothy Halt and Fred Wallitsch. Linda is usually seen seated at the table wearing one of her many distinctive hats.

The Changing Scene . . .

New Sectional Masters:  Helen Bauer, Elburn;  Betty Nowak, St. Charles.

New Regional Masters:  Fred Wallitsch, St. Charles;  Karen Anderson, Batavia;  Sybil Brown & Doug Cart, Rockford.

New NABC Master:  Lois Hoyer, Geneva;  Patricia Benedict, Rockford.

New Life Masters:  Doug St. John, Rockford;  Linda Shaw, Geneva.

New Bronze Life Master:  Kathryn Chamberlain & Dan Chamberlain, Rockford.

New Diamond Life Masters:  Will Engel, Freeport.