In Memory

We are saddened by the lose of two of our outstanding members.

Susan P. MacKinney

Some people strike you as rocks, others like feathers. Friends and adversaries would certainly agree that Susan MacKinney was definitely not a feather. Living a life that was based on strong principles and high ethical standards can sometimes pose a challenge. For Susan, it was inconceivable that there was any other way. Her friends and family lost true inspirations when Susan passed away on February 13, 2011.

After a brief marriage, Susan quickly completed her college education to support her young son, Tom. Education proved to be her calling, and she taught social studies at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park for 30 years. She took pride in her teaching and recently remarked that making her students aware of the ethical dimensions of their personal and policy choices was one of her proudest achievements.

Susan possessed a strong personality and fearless demeanor. At the same time, she was an extremely caring individual who donated her time and talents to those in need. She also served her fellow teachers continuously over the years in various union positions at the local and council positions. After retiring from teaching in 2000, Susan focused her energies on the needs of abused and neglected children involved in the Kane County Court System as a CASA volunteer. The game of bridge was a lifelong passion. She achieved the rank of Bronze Life Master a few years ago and continued to play competitively at every opportunity. She also served as the Unit 239 Treasurer for several years. Susan will be greatly missed.

Robert T. Korte

Bob was born in Columbus, Nebraska on August 12, 1934 to Arthur and Marie Korte. He married Kay in 1960 and they have two sons. Bob attended Valparaiso University where he received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and mathematics. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in an artillery unit at Fort Knox and in Germany. He spent most of his career in the publishing field as an editor of a trade magazine.. After retiring in 1996, he joined his wife, Kay, in her tax accounting business.

Bob was an avid duplicate bridge player and had achieved the status of Gold Life Master. He was also active in administrative end of duplicate bridge. He was President of Unit 239 for many years and also President of District 8 for two years. Bob also helped start the Rockford Regional Tournament. He was known for his excellent bridge play, as well as his friendliness to newcomers. Bob’s leadership and encouraging personality will greatly be missed.

New Life Masters

Pat Olafson

Congratulations to Pat Olafson upon her earning the honor of Life Master. Pat was born and raised in the frigid state of North Dakota. While attending the University of North Dakota, Pat met her future husband, Ken. With their marriage, eventually came five children, four girls and a boy, and a move to Rockford IL. After the children got older, Pat completed her nursing degree at Rockford College and worked as a Registered Nurse at a local hospital. Pat’s children are somewhat dispersed with one in Texas, one in New York, and three scattered in Illinois.

Pat’s interest in bridge started many years ago, when she was pregnant with twins. She and seven other mothers formed a Wednesday group to learn how, and then play party bridge. Five years ago her friend and Rockford Club Bridge member, Mary Simonson, got her started playing duplicate bridge. Pat remembers playing with Donna Cart in her first tournament. When talking to Donna’s husband, Doug, the next day, Doug asked "how did it go"?  She said, “I’m still living, Donna didn’t kill me while I slept.” 

Pat said she thought she could play bridge well but soon learned there was a lot more to the game. With the help of Mary Jo Sergent lessons and much instruction from other club members, Pat’s game improved.

Recently, Pat lost much of her hearing, making it more difficult to play the game. Pat was ready to quit. Sybil Brown, one of Pat’s friends and bridge partners, basically said she couldn’t give up and really urged her to continue. In relating this story to me, Pat was highly appreciative of Sybil’s encouragement and comfort in overcoming this obstacle. Pat began collecting a lot of points and on her whirlwind tour of the southeastern United States, she earned the three needed gold points in Destin, Florida to become a Life Master.

Pat’s advice to other bridge players is that “it is only a game and it is okay to go down.”  She also encourages newer player not to avoid players who have many more points; “Much can be learned from experience players.”

Her friend Mary Simonson said she has “created a monster” by introducing her to duplicate bridge. Pat has a family web site, and with the authors of either Hemingway or Steinbeck in mind, she came up with the following titles for her site:

    “Of Bridge and Snow Birds”

    "The Trump Always Rises”

    “The Wrath of Points”

    “For Whom the Trick Tolls”

If Pat is not found creating additional web site titles, she may be at home in her garden, which is Pat’s other passion. I have played many times against Pat and her partner and I have always found her to be a polite and enjoyable opponent. Again, congratulations to a new Life Master.

New Levels Achieved

New Junior Master:  Robert Huffington, Rockford;  Kathleen Porter, Elgin;  Dorothy Stewart, Rockford. Barbara Ellinson, Rockford.

New Club Master: Ned Furst, Freeport;  Martin Harlieb, Rockford;  Candy Hogan, ST Charles. Mary Cichon St. Charles;  Judith Graff, Freeport.

New Sectional Master: Linda Murphy, Rockford;  Martha Rusk, Oregon;  Gail Torgerson, Rockford,  Audrey Williams, Rockford.

New Regional Master: Michael Morrice, Crystal Lake;  Catherine Wright, Rockford

NABC Masters: Peggy Anderson, Elgin,  Carol Fischer, Rockford;  Susan Hillberry, Cherry Valley.

New Life Master:  Patricia Olafson, Rockford.

New Gold Life Master:  Robert Volsted, Elgin

New Platinum Life Master:  Joshua Stark, Grayslake.

Annual Meeting, Lunch and Free Bridge -- April 2

Unit 239 Board of Directors are happy to announce that April 2 is the date for the annual FREE lunch and bridge at the Holiday Inn, Elgin. The festivities will start at 10 am with the annual meeting followed with a full buffet lunch and an afternoon of bridge. Unit 239 is one of the few units that provide this to members at no charge -- the board's philosophy of giving back to the players.

TOURNAMENTS

Illini Regional - May 24-30, 2011.  Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign IL

The Rockin’ Rockford Regional is moving and changing its name to

The Great Sizzlin’ Illinois Regional

The BIGGEST Regional in The State of Illinois

June 20 – 26, 2011

 Holiday Inn, Route 31 and Three Oaks Road, Crystal Lake IL

Full Schedule is here

The Holiday Inn ballroom is BIGGER and NICER, with over 11,500 square feet of well-lighted and well-ventilated  playing area  The hotel has an excellent restaurant, free parking, no crowded reception area  and roomy, fresh restrooms. Great room rates, indoor pool, sauna and exercise equipment, friendly hotel staff --and the wonderful Holiday Inn hospitality!

More convenient location in Crystal Lake, whether traveling by car, plane or Metro train. From Rt 90 – exit 31 North – 10 miles to Three Oaks Rd  -- OR – from Rt 14 - exit 31 South – 1 mile.

All with the same GREAT HOSPITALITY FOR WHICH WE ARE FAMOUS!!

All bridge sessions: $12 per person.

The $73 room rate is guaranteed for reservations made before June 6^th. Refer to ACBL Unit 239 Bridge.