New Life Masters

When it rains it pours.  In the last two Pair Fares, we reported on a total of two new Life Masters. In this last two-month period, there are four new honorees. Congratulations go out to Sybil Brown, Neil Whittle, Marilyn Croft and Karen Anderson for accumulating the required number of point in achieving this honor. I have played against each of these four players in my bridge life, and have found all four of them amiable opponents, and well worthy of being called Life Masters.

Sybil Brown

Sybil is a member of the Rockford Club, has done a lot of traveling and earned the honor of Life Master in a relatively short period of time. Being goal oriented person, that desire became Sybil’s quest. 

Sybil grew up in a small town in the St Louis area of Wood River, Illinois.  Her married life includes living 23 years in the Wisconsin cities of Madison and Oconomowoc.   She is married to Cameron, and her family includes three sons and two grand children, and two new grand daughters through the marriage of her son at the end of this month.  Sybil earned a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and has taught all grade levels, elementary through high school. Sybil is now retired and due to her husband business they now live in Rockford.

Although her mother almost became a Life Master, Sybil did not take up bridge until she was living in Wisconsin.  Like many other bridge player, Sybil went from party bridge to duplicate bridge.  She started playing duplicate bridge in 1998 and a little later became taking lessons from Mary Jo Sergent and Kathy Owens at the Rockford Club.  Sybil said she was also mentored by Mabel McMahon, Karen Golden, Laurie Hamachek, and encouraged by her favorite partners of Pat Olafson, Beth Gale, and Char Whitney, Sybil had a special acknowledgement for John Kinst who took her under his wing, played as her partner in many tournaments, gave her homework to study, and mentored her in nuances of the game.  Sybil earned her last needed fraction of a silver point at a November Tournament in St Charles and to become a Life Master.

Sybil related this story to me, which might help explain why we play bridge.  Most of us have to take the good bridge days with the bad. If they were all good there would be no challenge and the game would become boring.  John Kinst and Sybil were playing against two “heavy hitters”, Eric Rodwell and Jeff Meckstroh.  Eric has authored books on the art of playing bridge, and in course of the game, John and Sybil bid and made a slam contract, which these worthy opponents failed to bid. Sybil said it felt great to have success against such accomplished players.

Sybil advice to us is to enjoy your partners and play for the love of the game.  She related to me she “hopes to continuing playing and enjoying duplicate bridge well into her 80’s.” From what I have witnessed at the Rockford Club, I suggest she amend her statement to well in the  90’s.

Neil Whittle

I have played regularly against Neil and his partner at the Tuesday game in St Charles and the Thursday game in Elgin.  I always look enjoy playing Neil because he is a real gentleman of the game. 

Neil grew up in rural area of Strawberry Point, Iowa.  He graduated from Upper Iowa College in 1969 with a degree in Business Administration.  Now retired, Neil worked for MCI Motor Coach industries and FTD floral services as a finance accountant.  Neil has 1 son, who lives in the Chicago area, and he has live in Carol Stream the past 20 years.

Neil said started playing bridge in college and began taking lessons in 1972.  For the next thirteen years he played duplicate bridge, earned 40 master points, and then quit in 1985.  Twenty-one years later, upon his retirement in 2006, Neil again started to play duplicate bridge.  Neil also, like Sybil Brown, was mentored by John Kinst, and was also encouraged by Karen Anderson, and Linda Brubaker.  Neil earned the silver needed to become a Life Master this past November at an St Charles Tournament. 

Neil’s advice to us is to “trust your partner”.  When I said that was an excellent suggestion, Neil assumed many other interviewee’s came up with same answer.  Upon some pontification on my part, I believe he was my first respondent with this answer.  It is very true bridge is based on a partnership of trust.

I asked Neil if he had any unique or funny stories related to bridge.  He said his opponents were Bob and Kay Korte, and when they asked what kind of slam convention they played, he answered 1040.  His former occupation seemed to over ride the correct answer of 3014.  The four of them had good chuckle at his impromptu answer.  When Neil not playing bridge you might find him on the square dance floor. 

Marilyn Croft

Marilyn grew up in Minneapolis within a large family, which included seven children. Being Golden Gopher alumni, Marilyn moves to Chicago to continue her education where she earned a Masters Degree in Management at Benedictine College.  Until her retirement, this degree leads to a very rewarding and interesting career as Head of Human Resources for the Chicago Field Museum.  Marilyn is married and has two stepsons and three grand children.  The Croft’s reside in St Charles, but also keep a second home in Chicago so they can enjoy the nightlife and entertainment that is found in a large urban environment.

Marilyn is a relatively new comer to duplicate bridge. Taking up the game three and a half years ago, Marilyn related, she felt at times, she was learning how to swim in the deep end of the pool. She dove in and got completely submerged in the game.  The worst thing that could happen was “you loose.”  Marilyn felt it is important to be challenged by experienced players, which can only expedite the learning curve.  Daryl Rotter is Marilyn’s main mentor, and they are seen together in the Elgin, Aurora and St Charles games.

Needing only one silver point, Marilyn earned the Honor of Life Master at the Turkey Bowl Sectional in Aurora.  Her advice to us, learn the basics of the game, have a variety of partners, study defenses, and don’t be afraid to get your feet wet by playing in open games.  When Marilyn is not playing bridge, you might find her on a tennis court. 

The Changing Scene

New Junior Masters:  Carol Johnson, Saint Charles;  Mary Ellen Trimberger, Aurora;  Pat Seyer, Crystal Lake. 

New Club Masters Karen Stunkel, Crystal Lake; Otis Thomas, Winnebago;  Gail Torgersen, Rockford;  Linda Murphy, Rockford;  Jack Torney Winnebago;  Geraldine Regez, Freeport;  Audrey Williams, Rockford.

New Sectional Masters:  Rodney Capanash, Aurora; Julia Worden, Barrington.

New Regional Masters: Donald Pauser, Dixon.

New Life Masters:  Karen Anderson, Batavia;  Sybil Brown, Rockford;  Marilyn Croft, St Charles;  Neil Whittle, Carol Stream.

New Bronze Life Master: Roger Dieringer, Elgin;  Dr. Barry Burren, Huntley;  Julia Kelley, Batavia;  Joseph Pieper, East Dubuque;  Douglas St John, Rockford.

Upcoming Tournaments

March 01-07 -- WINTER REGIONAL, Indy West Conference Center, Indianapolis IN
March 12-14 -- Warren Tatting Memorial Sectional, Hult Health Center, Peoria IL
March 19-21 -- Early Spring Sectional, Elgin Community College, Elgin IL

April 09-11 -- Galesburg IL Sectional
April 19-25 -- DISTRICT 13 SPRING REGIONAL, Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva WI
April 23-25 -- Pioneer IL Sectional, Hendelmeyer Park, Effingham IL

May 01-02 -- DISTRICT 8 GRAND NATIONAL TEAMS, Eagles Club, Riverton IL
May 25-31 -- ILLINI REGIONAL, Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign IL