Margaret Lewis & Bob Lewis of Granger - 71.25%  9/9

Elaine DeLaney, South Bend & Chris Habegger, Bristol - 70.83%  9/19

Elaine DeLaney & Don Wertheimer of South Bend - 74.31%  9/25

Wayne Carpente, Chesterton & Laverne Niksch, Portage - 79.19%  10/13

Elaine DeLaney & Don Wertheimer of South Bend - 71.76%  10/30

James Kart & Steven Jackson of Fort Wayne - 70.00%  11/4

Bob Porter & Trudi McKamey of Ogden Dunes - 72.92%  11/4

James Kart & Tom Carpenter, of Fort Wayne - 70.83%  11/13

Junior Master:  Gretchen Bonsib, Fort Wayne; Barbara Gasser, Huntertown; Charlyne Kleeman, Crown Point; John Lutz, Wolcottville; June Salmon, Long Beach; Barbara Unger, Mishawaka

Club Master:  Mary Kocevar, Hobart; Gerry Kulp, Fort Wayne; John Mowry, Fremont

Sectional Master:  Camille Cooper, Kokomo; Joann Lee, Fort Wayne; Carol Teshima, Trail Creek; Elnora Washington, Gary; James White, Warsaw

Regional Master:  Arlyne Filler, Highland; Daryl Fraley, Crown Point; Judy Selund, Ogden Dunes; Sharon Snyder, Crown Point

NABC Master:  Christine Barker, Granger; Otto Bonahoom, Fort Wayne

Bronze Life Master:  Mrs. E A Osborn, Kokomo

Silver Life Master:  Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton; Julie Kupersmith, Marion

Gold Life Master:  Norm Szewczyk

Life Master

Suzy Wright writes:

"I started playing bridge several years ago with one of our neighbors who told my husband and I what a great card game it is. We had so much fun, I was hooked immediately. However, being quite competitive, I wanted to learn more than party bridge so I showed up at the Elks one night and a partner was assigned to me. His name was Paul Loop and the first night, I was so frustrated that I thought I would never learn the game properly.

"As all bridge players know, one never stops learning where bridge is concerned but the love of the game is contagious. I just recently retired which enabled me to go to regionals and get my last gold points. I only needed .85 gold but I just couldn't seem to get to the tournaments. My partner was Camille Cooper and we played quite well in Ft. Wayne and had a great time.

"Now, the goal is for her to get her life master's also. I really wish we could introduce bridge into the local colleges because there are so many benefits and we want to keep the game alive and thriving. I am happy and proud to say that I am now a life master."
 

Bronze Life Master (and Life Master)

As the bridge players entered the Fort Wayne City Center to play in the regional, they heard the piano being played in a very professional way. They were delightfully surprised to find our own Phill Kolski entertaining the bridge troops with his marvelous brand of music. It was a great way to celebrate his attaining his Life Master (and Bronze Life Master) achievement.

Phill was born in South Bend in 1946, attended Central High School, and then graduated from Indiana University with a BS in 1969 and an MS in 1971. He married Sherri in 1981 and they shared in the birth of their two sons, Jeff and Bryan. Sadly, Bryan passed away due to an accident two years ago. Jeff is an accelerator physicist (PHD) working at the National Lab at Los Alamos, NM.

Before his life with Sherri, Phill enjoyed mountaineering, mostly in the Tetons. He has been on the top of two of the highest three. Phill is fascinated by history and collects historical simulations. He volunteers at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center by playing the piano. He taught 8th grade Science in the PHM district and retired after 38 years. Sherri and Phill have an Irish Setter, Murphy, and three cats — leftovers from the boys.

Phill’s bridge career started at IU Bloomington followed by a 30-year hiatus. Steve Bibler got him back into the game when they started playing at the Elkhart Club. Phill has not only enjoyed the game, but has enjoyed making many friends, both at the Elkhart and the South Bend clubs. He is grateful to his many partners who have helped him along the way.

Congratulations!

Silver Life Master

Silver Life Master

Wayne Carpenter of Chesterton has crossed over the 1000-masterpoint mark and now has the title of Silver Life Master! Congratulations to him! Wayne tells a little something about his journey to this point:

"Does October 29, 2014 mean anything special to you? It sure does to me. That's the day I got enough points to help me earn my Silver Life Master.

"I don't remember my first bridge game, but I grew up playing card games with my family because we didn't have a television in our house until I was a senior in high school. (I was the youngest of five children.) I started playing bridge in college and didn't miss too many classes, but bridge was, of course, much more fun. After college I spent some 37 years as a utility supervisor doing that four letter word — "work"! I was able to play bridge about once a week with long-time friends and my cousin, Laverne Niksch, who has been my primary partner for the past ten years. About 75% of my masterpoints came from this partnership.

"About nine years ago my wife, Janet, and I did the best thing in our lives — we adopted a baby girl! Maya is now the main focus in our lives and we are so blessed. What a joy she is, and if it's not in the cards for me to become a Gold Life Master, Maya makes everyday a golden day!

"You can't get a thousand master points without help from good partners. Thanks to Dave Bigler, Chuck Briggs, Yuan Hsu, Jim Angell and, of course, Laverne. If I were going to bet on who my partner would be when I achieved the magic number of 1000, I would have put my money on Laverne or Dave. It turned out to be Lou Nimnicht. I can only remember playing with Lou once before about two years ago. Lou played my card and did a great job, which is how Lou plays bridge. Thanks Lou!

"One thing I try to remember is — you're only as good as your partner. My advice to all who are working for any rank is — be nice to your partner. He or she holds the key."

Dave Bigler finds Wayne to be a consistent partner twice a week for the last year. "He carries a special convention card, which is always fun to play. He is the best defender I've ever played with. He has also contributed to the game of bridge as a director. I'm looking forward to the next game we play, because Wayne always starts with a smile and a laugh."

From Lou Nimnicht — "Since Wayne and I had played only once before the STaC game, it was especially delightful to score just well enough for Wayne to achieve the significant rating of Silver Life Master. In addition to his considerable playing skills, Wayne should probably train directors in proper attitude and deportment. His positive outlook is contagious."

Gold Life Master

Norm Szewczyk became a Gold Life Master in September, having earned the required 2500 points. He writes about his journey to this point in his bridge career:

"Bridge has always been a game that held my interest from the time I first started playing it back in my college days. When I began playing duplicate, I was fortunate to be mentored by two gentlemen who I still regard as two of the best men players from this area that ever played the game — namely, George Kugar and Dave Andrews. Along the way as I moved up in the ranks, I was lucky to have two very good partners — Tom Bolton and Frances Haughey.

"Now after achieving my latest rank in bridge, I also have two very good partners in Charlie Abernethy and Pat Valiska.

"I would also like to thank all the rest of my partners, past and present, who have helped me attain this goal."

70th Wedding Anniversary

Congratulations from the South Bend Bridge Club to Gordon and Barbara Medlock, who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary! Gordon and Barb were recently joined by their family to honor this remarkable achievement.

Over the years, the Bridge Club has watched the very special bond and affection shown by this couple toward each other. We send our best wishes to both of them.

We will miss you, Howie Schmid!

Our dearest and much-loved friend at the bridge table in northwest Indiana has passed away —Howie Schmid. Howie's greatest joy was in making others happy — and, indeed, we were always happy to be at the same table with him. He brought so many gifts to our lives, and he, himself, was truly a gift from God. His strength, perseverance and upbeat personality were an inspiration to us all. His love of bridge was trumped only by love for his fellow man.

Howie was an excellent duplicate bridge player. He won 13 regional events and many sectional events. He was a past president of Unit 154. After teaching at Lew Wallace High School in Gary during the day, he taught duplicate bridge classes at Indiana University and Purdue University in the evenings. He was so close to becoming a Diamond Life Master. It was his life's goal to reach the 5000-masterpoint mark, but he fell 78 points short.

Many tributes were written about this resilient, bright and kind-hearted man. This one is from Steve Watson, his long-time partner.

"Even beyond the bridge table, Howie Schmid — though maybe average or common in some areas — demonstrated human qualities that elevated him into the stratosphere, with his true essence being 'lover of life and mankind'. Howie fought off over the past 10+ years countless assaults upon his physical health and constant visits to the doctors and/or hospital. While the average person would have long given up, Howie epitomized what extraordinary willpower, determination, grit and courage could accomplish.

"Despite his continuous setbacks and afflictions, however, Howie remained to the end positive, selfless, encouraging, witty and gracious to all. He was an exceptional human being and friend and my long-time bridge partner of 36 years."

Joe Chin recalled a memorable incident:

"There's a saying in bridge — 'Eight EVER; nine NEVER.' This statement applies whenever there are 9 trump between declarer's and dummy's hands with the queen missing. While taking Howie's intermediate class and facing him as left-hand opponent, I played dummy's Ace (fourth), and a trump toward my hand (with 5), playing the King as rightie followed, hoping to drop the Queen. Howie hesitated and sighed. 'I should have finessed the Jack,' I thought, blaming myself quietly. Those 5-10 seconds were torturous. Then with 'heh-heh-heh', and a twinkle in his eye, he produced the Queen."

He will be missed. Rest in peace — to a really good guy.

Howard's obituary is here.

Director, Alan Yngve, has started new club in Chesterton which meets at 7PM on Tuesday.

It is an open-stratified game. The address is Chesterton Art Center, 115 S. 4th Street, Chesterton IN.