70% + GAMES

Barbara and Paul Graegin, Dyer — 75.23%  April 5

Dave Bigler, Hobart and Chuck Briggs, Hobart — 70.37%  April 20

Barbara and Paul Graegin, Dyer — 73.61%  April 26

Richard Mao, Mishawaka and Jim Feinstein, South Bend — 71.43%  April 30

Wayne Carpenter, Chesterton and Laverne Niksch, Portage — 73.61%  May 4

John Chmielowiec, Michigan City and Al Simmons, Chicago — 72.21%  May 5

Jim Feinstein, South Bend and Mike Slaven, Elkhart — 73.61%  May 5

Tony Gillian, Calumet City and Lou Nimnicht, Crown Point — 70.46%  May 15

Sharon Snyder, Dune Acres and Madge Kollar, Chesterton (novice game) — 70.00%  May 15

Dolores Horgash, Highland and Duane Saylor, Hobart (novice game) — 70.00%  May 15

John Aumiller, Fort Wayne and Grant Van Horne, Auburn — 72.68%  May 18

Tom Hallum, Chicago and Mike Howards, Park Forest — 70.51%  May 22

Duane Saylor, Hobart (novice game) — 72.22%  May 29

RISING IN THE RANKINGS

Junior Masters:  Charlotte Abernethy, Griffith; Linda Avery, Mishawaka; Lyla Lockhart, Notre Dame; Mary Ann Filipiak, Michigan City

Club Masters:  Gloria Falcone, Schererville; Alan Filler, Highland; Lindy Moss, Fort Wayne; Jane Bailey, Elkhart

Sectional Master:  Dolores Keller, Valparaiso

Regional Master:  Kenneth Bisson, Angola

NABC Masters:  Earl and Sally Landrum, Marion

Life Master:  James Doyle, Merrillville

Silver Life Masters:  Doris Goberville, Walkerton; Victor Papai, South Bend; Ruth Bowser, Schererville, Hugh Metzger, South Bend

SBBC BRIDGE NEWSLETTER

June will see the inauguration of the South Bend Bridge Club newsletter. Cappy Gagnon has been chosen to be the editor with Jo Ann Steigmeyer doing the artwork and layout. This will be a chance to let our members know what activities are planned, give them profiles of our players, history of the club, announcements of classes and special seminars covering particular bridge subjects, achievements of the members as they pass from Junior Masters to the exalted Life Master ranks, bridge hands, and stories about bridge experiences. Knowing Cappy, we will find this interesting and enjoyable reading.

RECOGNITION PARTY FOR NEW LIFE MASTERS

On May 1, 2010 the South Bend Bridge Club held a Recognition Party to honor members who had achieved very special rankings in the ACBL. The honorees were:

The club held a two-session event with wonderful food served between sessions. Highlights of the event were readings of poems authored by the friends/spouses/bridge partners of the honorees. We present below some samples of the poetic prowess of our members.

For John Killeen written by his wife Tricia:

I’ve often witnessed John Killeen

Buried in his bridge magazine.

With our convention card he loves to tinker;

At the bridge table he is a deep thinker.

A better partner, no one could find;

He’s patient, forgiving, and always kind.

The past nine years couldn’t have gone faster,

And now he is a Gold Life Master.

For Rosemary Shafer written by her friend and bridge partner, Martha Hosinski:

Our Rosie has never let things get past her,

She often saves partners from a disaster.

But she’s not kidding

When she starts bidding.

So, now she’s our new

Bronze Life Master

For John (Big John) Chmielowiec written by his friend and bridge partner, Jim Feinstein. At the end of each verse, the bridge audience sang “Big John, Big John, Big Bad John”. Here is a small sample (We would like to have presented this lengthy poem in its entirety – maybe another day):

Michigan City, Indiana was where John called home;

He played bridge at the club and stayed all alone.

He didn’t say much, kind of quiet and shy;

If he did speak, you’d say, “Gee, what a nice guy!”

Big John, Big John, Big Bad John.

In the entire Midwest, the story’s the same,

John overwhelmed bridgers without knowing their name.

Sectionals, regionals, to him they were fun,

For no matter who’s playing, Big John always won.

Big John, Big John, Big Bad John.

LIFETIME TOP MP HOLDERS IN UNIT 154   (as of December 31, 2009)

  1.  Howard Piltch, South Bend  18,492

  2.  Bob Carteaux, Fort Wayne  12,008

  3.  Dean Duncan, Mishawaka  8769

  4.  Michael Slaven, Elkhart  8654

  5.  John Aumiller, Fort Wayne  8456

  6.  Dave Fred, Granger  7702

  7.  James Davis, Kokomo   5877

  8.  Richard Ellis Jr., Kokomo   5294

  9.  John Chmielowiec, Michigan City  5168

  10.  Wesley Adamczyk, Deerfield  5078

  11.  Rita Duncan, Somerset  4875

  12.  Frank Yoder III, Goshen   4773

  13.  Irene Singleton, South Bend  4639

  14.  Carol Mahoney, Kokomo   4558

  15.  James Feinstein, South Bend  4470

  16.  Howard Schmid, Merrillville   4271

  17.  Joseph Chin, Highland  4179

  18.  Rosemary Zonker, Elkhart  3635

  19.  Rony Adelsman, South Bend  3361

  20.  Joseph Shull, New Haven  3239

  21.  Elaine Delaney, South Bend  3031

  22.  J. Cordas, South Bend  3023

  23.  Marie Goldner, Mishawaka  2943

  24.  Jack Spring, Fort Wayne  2772

  25.  Charles Clarke, South Bend   2763

  26.  Teen Robertson, Mishawaka  2683

  27.  James O'Connell, Valparaiso   2676

  28.  Byron Parshall, Mishawaka  2619

  29.  Lou Ann Slaven, Elkhart  2536

  30.  John Killeen, Mishawaka  2506

  31.  Virginia Stipp, South Bend  2491

  32.  Carol Osgerby, Highland  2460

  33.  Barbara Graegin, Dyer  2396

  34.  Sara Marcus, Granger   2390

  35.  Marian David, South Bend  2381

  36.  Charlotte Davis, Kokomo   2229

  37.  Marilyn Weisbach, Fort Wayne  2217

  38.  Daniel Simon, South Bend  2186

  39.  Donna Simon, South Bend  2145

  40.  Mrs. M. C. Knepper, Palmetto  2120

  41.  Steven Watson, Munster   2067

  42.  Lena Howard, Elkhart  1996

  43.  Albert Guilford, Angola  1987

  44.  Leroy Boser, Elkhart   1957

  45.  Paul Scherer, Mishawaka  1920

  46.  Chris Grande, Mishawaka  1916

  47.  Patricia Killeen, Mishawaka 1838

  48.  Michael Clegg, Fort Wayne  1814

  49.  James Angell, Munster   1793

  50.  Robert Barbieri, Fort Wayne  1756

  51.  Opal Jost, South Bend  1745

  52.  J. F. Yocom, Hobart 1736

  53.  Norman Szewczyk, Lansing  1724

  54.  Callix Miller, Granger   1720

  55.  Louise Tickfer, Granger   1719

  56.  Paul Heinsen, Winamac 1713

  57.  Suzanne Watson, South Bend  1669

  58.  Essi Katz, Mishawaka  1668

  59.  Donald Ferguson, Fort Wayne  1641

  60.  Joan Smith, Fort Wayne  1639

  61.  David McNitt, Elkhart   1637

  62.  Rose Ferguson, Ft Wayne  1616

  63.  June Glazer, Elkhart   1598

  64.  K. Koorsen, Fort Wayne  1576

  65.  Bud Hinckley, South Bend  1555

  66.  Mary Lou Clegg, Fort Wayne  1549

  67.  Rosemary Payne, Goshen   1538

  68.  Norman Stephan, Fort Wayne  1529

  69.  Patricia Love, Fort Wayne  1526

  70.  Jo Ann Steigmeyer, Granger   1524

  71.  Bonnie Carter, Kokomo   1517

  72.  William Searcy, Elkhart  1492

  73.  Marilyn Crank, Kokomo   1490

  74.  Doris Eley, Merrillville   1480

  75.  Daniel Spain, Portage 1462

  76.  Mrs. B. A. Seitz, New Haven  1456

  77.  Virginia Peterson, Plymouth   1439

  78.  Ronald Peterson, Plymouth   1438

  79.  Bob Hawley, Peru   1419

  80.  Robert Adams, South Bend  1405

  81.  Anne Rosen, Fort Wayne  1396

  82.  Paul Graegin, Dyer  1382

  83.  F. R. Kellstrom, Chesterton  1374

  84.  Louis Nimnicht, Crown Point  1346

  85.  Timothy Delaney, South Bend  1340

  86.  F. A. Binder Jr., South Bend   1339

  87.  Fred Carnes, Kokomo   1323

  88.  Patty Fred, Granger   1275

  89.  Donald Wertheimer, South Bend  1246

  90.  Deborah Yocum, Valparaiso   1220

  91.  Sara Grande, Mishawaka  1214

  92.  Gilbert Fox, Auburn   1188

  93.  Donald Spears, Fort Wayne  1168

  94.  Sandy Craft, Fort Wayne  1167

  95.  Richard Klitzke, South Bend   1160

  96.  Ruth Stephan, Fort Wayne  1150

  97.  Charles Schultz, La Porte   1147

  98.  Cappy Gagnon, Notre Dame  1138

  99.  Lois Ganser, Mishawaka  1123

100.  William Lesser, Fort Wayne  1072

SILVER LIFE MASTER — RUTH BOWSER

Ruth Bowser of Schererville became a Silver Life Master on April 14, 2010! She started playing duplicate in 1993 when Martha Archer from Hartford City asked her to go to Kokomo. From there the two of them traveled all over in a quest for points.

Ruth has had many partners who helped her reach this prestigious level, but principally, Marlin Smith. Marlin has played with Ruth for almost 20 years. He says that she is his steady and consistent partner — one who is easy to get along with.

The 1000-masterpoint mark was a goal Ruth pursued for several years. She thanks all the many partners who helped her reach this prestigious level.