Georgia Heth  1956-2023

Georgia Heth, former ACBL President and our long-time District 8 representative on the ACBL Board, died suddenly on December 26, 2023, four days after her 67th birthday.

Georgia grew up in Morton IL in a bridge-playing family. After graduating from Millikin University and Stanford University College of Law, she returned to her hometown and began a long career working for the Illinois Attorney General. Later, she served as regional counsel for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She retired in 2017.

Georgia loved playing bridge and working for bridge players and she excelled at both. Intelligent and outspoken, she had a strong personality and work ethic that made her a natural leader.

She  had been playing bridge only a few years when she began serving on the Central Illinois Unit and District 8 Boards, coordinating special events and chairing sectional and regional tournaments. She was elected to the ACBL Board of Directors in 2003 and to the World Bridge Federation Executive Council in 2009. In 2020, she was elected president of the ACBL Board and was the first president to serve two consecutive terms.

Georgia was also a fantastic cook. She and her mother Mardel used to cook and serve hot lunches on Sundays at Central Illinois sectionals. Those were the only times in my memory that not a single player complained about "tournament food".   

In her fifties, Georgia became a foster parent. She opened her home to many children in need and adopted her son Kortlan, who is now a student at Parkland College in Champaign. 

We've all lost a friend with a big heart and a fierce dedication to our game. I'll miss working on bridge projects with Georgia, but most of all, I'll miss our conversations, her sense of humor and her big laugh.

   - Karen Walker