IN MEMORIAM

We regret to announce that Linda Avery passed away on Friday, April 1. She leaves behind a husband, Joseph, three children, and two grandchildren. She was a dear friend of Joan Aldrich, who shared her love of bridge and Mahjong.

Linda began taking bridge lessons with Jo Ann Steigmeyer in 2006 and continued with Intermediate, Play-of-the-Hand, and Defense. You could always find her at the 49er games/lessons listening to and learning from Elaine Delaney. She loved the game, was eager to improve, and brought a lovely smile to our lives.
 

The South Bend Bridge Club was scheduled to honor Dan Clark for his Bronze Life Master achievement at their Awards Banquet in May, but instead the club members said goodbye to him.

Dan passed away on March 12. He was the pastor at the Community Congregational Church, an opera singer, chef, restauranteur, a black belt in Judo, and a Master Mason. The community will be less without this multi-talented man in its midst.
 

GOLD LIFE MASTER

Barbara Graegin of Dyer is one of the best players in Northwest Indiana. She is an extremely proficient player who knows how to play defense expertly. Her abilities usually enable her to come in first in the games in which she plays. Her usual partner is her husband, Paul, and together they are a dynamic duo.

Barbara is pleasant and easy to play with. She is always tolerant of her partners’ errors and is very gentle with her criticism. She has been most generous in pointing out possibilities when asked.

Barbara comes from a bridge family. As a girl, she and her sister, Nancy Eldridge, worked at national tournaments picking up the individual slips after each round to be recorded by hand on a score sheet. They earned $5 each day for their services. She became a Life Master in 1975 and continues to play once a week — sometimes two.

Tom Hallum sums it up, “Barbara’s judgment and overall approach to the game of bridge is great! It is a pleasure to play with her. She is a wonderful player, as well as a wonderful person.”

BRONZE LIFE MASTER

Wayne Carpenter from Chesterton, has attained the rank of Bronze Life Master, reaching this milestone on April 12 while playing with his primary partner — his cousin, Laverne Niksch. They are aggressive bidders and most often score highly in their games. Wayne has been playing duplicate bridge since 2004. Wayne's excellent ability and his demeanor make him a respected player.

Wayne says that becoming a Bronze Life Master has been a big goal of his. He also comments that playing with so many good people has helped him get there, and the ride has been such a joy!

Wayne is the father of a beautiful 5-year-old daughter, whom he and his wife have adopted. Wayne said that prior to 2006 he did a lot of traveling — visiting about 20 foreign countries in all. Now his visits to other countries come via Epcot Center.

LIFE MASTER

Kim Grant learned how to count high card points 20 years ago and then quit. She picked up party bridge again about 5 years ago and started playing duplicate about 2 1/2 to 3 years ago. She made the decision that she wanted to get better and asked for help from anyone who was willing to teach her!

Kim became a Life Master at the Gatlinburg Tournament in April. She played team games for most of the week but got her final points on the very last day of the tournament in the pairs game with her partner, Gary Chaney. The most memorable time of the event was on that very last day in the pairs game when Gary and Kim moved on to the third table in the pairs game to play against Jeff Meckstroth and his wife, Sally, where Kim didn't embarrass herself with her bidding or play! “By the way,” Kim says, “they were both very nice and wished me luck and success!”

Kim would like to keep on learning and, of course, winning! She says she has had many wonderful mentors, and would like to pass that gift on and help others learn to love the game as she does.

Kim was elected to the Fort Wayne Duplicate Club board of directors this year.