70% + GAMES

Dennis David, South Bend and Dick Willson, South Bend (199er game) — 70.24%  November 21

Elnora Washington, Gary and Delphine Slater, Gary (49er game) — 70.00%  November 26

Jim Feinstein, South Bend and Dick Hastings, Bristol — 71.53%  November 27

Norm Filipiak, Michigan City and Dan Cunningham, LaPorte — 81.00%  November 28

Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne and Steven Jackson, Fort Wayne — 71.13%  December 10

Becky Fastero, South Bend and Peggy Lyzun, South Bend (99er game) — 70.00%   January 10

John Aumiller, Fort Wayne and Ken Koorsen, Fort Wayne — 70.14%  January 14

RISING IN THE RANKINGS

Junior Master: Donna Beach, Valparaiso; Charles Cairns, Fort Wayne; Gene Hogle, Michigan City; Eleanor Miller, Elkhart

Club Master: Janet Crull, Granger; Merrill Crull, Granger; Lois Edelstein, Schererville; Alan Geller, Munster; Dolores Marshall, Portage; Sharon Snyder, Chesterton; J Philip McGraw, Rensselaer; Debbie McNagny, Fort Wayne

Sectional Master: Christopher Clarke, South Bend; Irene Cooperrider, Elkhart; Clarke Dippell, Granger; Yuan Hsu, Hammond; John Krueger, Fort Wayne; Susan Brammer, Upland

Regional Master: Mary Adams, South Bend; Robert Ferguson, Valparaiso; Geoffrey Hadlock, Winona Lake; Lynn Miller, Palm City, FL; Otto Bonahoom, Fort Wayne

NABC Master: Patrick Oetting, Fort Wayne; Patrick Kelly, Fort Wayne

Life Master: Edmond Douville, Hobart

Bronze Life Master: Laverne Niksch, Portage

Gold Life Master: Carol Osgerby, Dyer

Diamond Life Master: Rita Duncan, Somerset

IN MEMORIAM

Dave McNitt (left), 88, passed away on November 14, 2011 in Elkhart. He was a longtime member of the South Bend Bridge Club. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, his three children, and two grandsons. During World War II he served honorably with the U. S. Army Air Corps.

Dave was a Silver Life Master, having earned many of his points with his very best bridge buddy and friend, Leroy Boser. Dave was not only a gentleman, but a gentle man. He was thoughtful and kind with a gracious smile for everyone and exhibited a great sense of humor. But with all his kindness, he could still be a tough competitor at the bridge table. All of the club players will miss him greatly.

Marlene Kestermeier passed away on December 24, 2011. She was an avid bridge player at the South Bend Bridge Club who played with the 199ers — often with her sister, Joan Sarber. The players will miss her smile.
 

GOLD LIFE MASTER

Carol Osgerby has surpassed the 3200 masterpoint mark in her illustrious bridge career. She is a reliable partner and a well-regarded bridge teacher in the area. Here is the story of her beginnings in the game that took her to where she is today.

I started to play bridge in college. Although both of my parents played, I did not learn at home. I really enjoyed what I thought was “bridge” at the time. My husband, Gale, and I enjoyed playing socially, and shortly thereafter I found duplicate. I made LOTS of mistakes at the table, but my many partners were most kind and helpful. I wore egg on my face more times than I would like to remember, but I learned.

Shortly after we moved to Munster, I received a call asking me to teach. I suggested that the lady should come by the house where I would be happy to give her pointers. She said, “NO” — she and others wanted lessons and asked what I would charge. My response was “Nothing” because I could not charge for something I did not know I could do. My students got requests from others to join, and I got requests from others, so now I was a teacher and was getting paid.

I’ve taught at various locations until I retired in 2009. I loved what I did and I still enjoy helping others at the bridge table any time players want help. I love this game and hope to continue enjoying it for many years to come. My advice to the players who have

played for a long time is this, “Be kind and patient with new people, and remember they cannot make a mistake you have not already made!” My advice to new players is this, “Allow yourself to fall on your face and learn from it, and know you cannot make a mistake that those who have gone before you have not already made!” May you all have a Grand Slam Day, and may you continue to enjoy this great game!!!

Carol is an avid online player. 447.75 of her points in 2011 were earned online. She placed #41 in her 2500 - 5000 mp category for the year ACBL-wide and #117 among all the online players (no matter how many points they had).