District 8 News

    Just two items to report.  Will Engel of Freeport, Illinois was invited to participated in an international bridge tournament in Poland.  Bob Emme, a Diamond Life Master, has jointed our District.

New Life Masters

Bob Coffee was one of three District 8 bridge players to earn the rank of Life Master.  Playing at the Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bob won the needed gold points to achieve this honor.  Judy, Bob’s wife, came up fifth-teen hundreds point short of the needed gold and will be achieving this honor in the near future.  Bob, shortly there after, became a Bronze Life Master, by earning 1 point at the Rockford Club.

Bob basically has spent almost all of his life living working in the Rockford area. While helping to raise a family with his wife of almost 52 years, Bob was a General Service Representative for Common Wealth Edison.  His job entailed planning and laying out the power line routes in new housing subdivision.  While working for Com-Ed, Bob earned an associates Degree at Rockford Valley College.  Judy and Bob have two daughters, a son, 7 grand children, and 1 great grand child.

Bob’s interest in duplicated bridge goes back to a friend, Gordy Sydow. While both were coaching fast pitch softball, Gordy introduce both Bob and Judy to duplicate bridge.  The Coffee’s, Gordy’s wife and six other couples began meeting once a month to enjoyed an evening of four-table duplicate bridge. Other members of this group included Hal and Judy Miller, Bob and Mary Dolak, and LaVona  Peterson and her now deceased husband.  Bob learned how to improve his play of duplicate bridge by teaching classes on duplicate bridge at Rockford Valley College.  Mary Belle Moss talked Bob into trying his hand at teaching.

Bob’s words to the wise are to have fun, be nice to your partner and opponents, and practice good card sense.  When Bob is not playing bridge, you might find him either deer hunting or fishing.  

Hal Miller  is our other member of the Rockford Club who is a new Life Master.  Hal earned the needed gold points at the Rockford Regional this past July.  Hal also, is a life long resident of Rockford and was employed as a sales manager for G.A.G. Garden Prairie Company.

Hal has a wife, Judy, and two children, a daughter who lives in Deerfield, and a Son who lives in Chicago.  The Millers also, have one grandson.  Because Hal had a stroke a few years ago, Judy assisted in providing the answers to most of my questions.

Hal was a history major at Iowa Wesleyan College and took up bridge as an interest while working on his degree.  Later, at the Rockford Club, Hal credited Phyllis Seeman with mentoring him on the finer points of the game. Like many of the other bridge player I have interviewed, Hal said you can take the game seriously and be competitive, but it is important that you enjoy the game.

Hal’s other interests include fishing, the Cubs, and the Bears.  Hal and Judy make it a point to see at least 1 Bear game and 3 to 4 Cubs games a year.

I have found Both Bob and Hal to be competitive and pleasant opponents. 

The Changing Scene…

New Junior Masters:  David Johnson, Rockford; Judy Johnson, Rockford; Stephen Chesek, Algonguin; Kay Conover, Sugar Grove; Paul Shumate, Huntley; Elizabeth Smith, Huntley.

New Club Masters:   Laurence Fitzpatrick, Roscoe; Mary Snyder, Cherry Valley; Karen Flood, St. Charles; Joan Hedley, Sugar Grove.

New Sectional Masters:  Mary Simonson, Rockford; Chandler Aiyar, Huntley; Geraldine McGinnis, Rockford.

New Regional Masters:  Ronald Anderson, Aurora; Marilyn Croft, St. Charles; Laurie Glennon, Rockford, Robert Quintin, St. Charles.

New NABC Master: Charles Nier, Elgin.

New Life Masters: Harold Miller, Belvidere; Robert Coffee, Rockford; Linda Shaw, Geneva.

New Bronze Life Master:  Edward Cohen; Robert Coffee, Rockford; Richard Gierate, Belvidere.

New Silver Life Masters:  David Jenkins, Rockford; L. A. Jenkins, Rockford.

New Diamond Life Masters:  Harold Emme, Plainfield.

Fall Club Calendar

Autumn is a busy season for bridge clubs in District 8. Plan now to visit your local clubs and take advantage of the increased master point awards at these special events:

Club Appreciation Month -- October 1-31

During the month of October, clubs throughout ACBL can host a sectional-rated club championship (black points, with 5% gold for section tops). Check with your club manager for dates of the games in your area.

District 8 Sectional-at-Clubs -- October 27-November 2

Win sectional-rated silver points at your local club in District 8's annual Fall Sectional-at-Clubs week. Percentage scores will be compared from all club games at each session, giving you the opportunity to win as many as 15 silver points for placing overall. Conditions of contest are on the District 8 STAC page, which will also post scores from all clubs during STAC week. 

Upcoming Area Tournaments

October 20-26 -- Central States Regional, Lake Geneva,WI

November 14-16 -- Fall Fest Sectional, Lombard IL

December 26-30 -- Wisconsin Holiday Regional, Lake Geneva WI