New Life Master: Cathy Wright

Cathy Wright grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. After graduation from Madison West High School, Cathy began her college career at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. After her sophomore year, Cathy married George and they moved to Chicago. An accounting firm employed George and Cathy finished her degree in elementary education at Loyola University.

The Wright’s have four children – two boys and two girls. Three of the children -- Erin, Jason and Mary -- all have education degrees and are now employed as teachers. Andrew, the oldest, is employed outside the educational field. Because of her family, Cathy elected to be a stay-at-home mom.

At age 38, Cathy went back to school and earned a Masters degree in Early Child Development from Northern Illinois University. Cathy work for 16 years as a teacher at the Spectrum Private School in a multi-level classroom environment and had contact with children from pre-school to age ten. She “loved her job”, but her career ended when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given six months to a year to live. To the joy of her family and friends, that diagnosis was made five years ago and Cathy is still going strong today.

Cathy learned bridge in high school where she was a member of the bridge club. She said she “wasn’t smart enough to join the chess club.”  During her child-rearing years, Cathy played party bridge with her friends and family. Upon learning of her illness, she decided to take up bridge seriously. So Cathy went to the Rockford Bridge Center and Kathy Owens lined her up with Audrey Williams as a partner. Cathy got hooked and developed partnerships with Bob Larson, Susan Hillberry, and Will Engel. Cathy earned the last of requires gold points in the spring Crystal Lake Regional, and had already earned the required silver points. All she needed was a few black points to become a life master, which she earned sometime in September. When I asked Cathy where and when she became a life master, she really didn’t know.

Cathy said that bridge is a wonderful and fun game, but her priorities are really her family and friends. She has met many very nice people and that sometime interferes with her game. Rather then concentrating on her play, she is too busy talking with her opponents. Other interest for Cathy include, golf, music, and bowling. I have had the pleasure of being one of Cathy’s opponents but, unfortunately, I couldn’t engage her in conversation during our games. Congratulations, Cathy, on becoming a LM – Life Master.

Advancements

New Junior Master:  Tressa Anderson, Rockford;  Marlene Busher, Rockford;  Pamela Watson, St. Charles;  Donald Folden, Rockford.

New Club Masters:  Patricia Green, Rockford.

New Sectional Master:  Diane Rabe, Elgin;  Rudolph Schoppe, DeKalb;  Irma Danna, Huntley;  Orin Keplinger, Garden Prairie;  Jan Kolweit, Rockford.

New Regional Master:  Judy Bonardi, Arlinton Heights;  Robert Boyd, Rockford;  Mary Comstock, Batavia;  George Hess, Galena;  Betty Hettinger, Aurora;  Jayant Kadakia, Huntley;  Debra Allen, Rockford;  Barbara Gieseke; Elgin;  Lynne Madden, Sugar Grove;  James Newberry, Elburn.

New NABC Masters:  Ardythe Edwards, Huntley;  Linda Brubaker, Geneva.

New Life Masters:  Janet Brandt, Elgin;  Catherine Wright, Rockford.

New Bronze Life Masters:  Janet Brandt, Elgin; Susan Hillberry, Cherry Valley;  Edward Kain, Huntley.

Silver Life Masters:  Sybil Brown, Rockford.

New Gold Life Masters:  Donella. Brosseau, Sleepy Hollow

Snow Flake Silver Sectional

          January 4-6, 2014

Holiday Inn, 800 South Route 31
Crystal Lake, IL
Phone: 877-859-5095

Tournament Chair
Rolando Brabant   Email: rxbincfl@gmail.com

Partnership Chair
Janet Brandt   Email: janetbrandt@sbcglobal.net

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