New Life Master: Don Malone

HELL-LOO is often heard at the Rockford Bridge Center when new opponents take their respective seats at Don Malone’s bridge table. Don also has an infectious laugh that puts any bridge player in a good frame of mind. Don was able to earn his rank of Life Master in an unusually short time period of three years.

Don grew up in Texas and he related he learned to count by arranging grapefruit seeds, at least that's what Don claims to be true. After high school, Don went on to earn three college degrees from Sam Houston State, Texas Christian and Ball State, the last being a doctorate in music. Don then proceeded to become a professor of music at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Now retired, Don still performs his specialty of algorithmic electro-acoustic music. Outside his professional life, Don has a wife Gin, and three sons, one daughter, and two grandchildren. Don and Gin now live in Sharon, Wisconsin, which  involves a forty-minute commute to the Rockford Bridge Center.

Don said he got started playing bridge during his commutes to work in Chicago. Using a portable computer game during his ride to Roosevelt University, Don began to develop an interest in learning the finer points of the game. Upon his retirement three years ago, Don hooked up with the Rockford Club and since then he has developed a strong liking of duplicate bridge, because “skills precede the luck of the game”. Like a true professor, Don has devoured many of the books in the club library, and Don is adaptable to playing many of the lesser-used conventions. Don earned his rank of Life Master this past fall at the Fort Wayne, Indiana Regional Tournament.

Don would like to thank Bob Hero, Kathy Owen, Becky Chance and Mike Abarbanel for mentoring him in the nuances of the game. His advice to others is to maintain an accurate count of cards played, and “don’t be afraid to play up.” What Don is suggesting, along with other Life Masters I have interviewed, is to try playing in open games. You’ll learn a lot by doing so, and if you scratch, you’ll earn more points. Don recently has become a certified director and may in the future oversee some of the Rockford games.

The Changing Scene . . .

New Junior Masters: Daniel King, Rockford; Roger Martin, Loves Park; Jackie Shair, Rockford; Catherine Wright, Rockford.

New Junior Masters: Irene Crawford, Huntley; Carolyn Miller, Rockford; Karen Weedman, Rockford.

New Club Masters: Timothy Kleimeyer, Sleepy Hollow; Davis Shair, Rockford; Barbara Knuckles, Machesney Park.

New Sectional Masters: Thomas McDonald, Batavia; Charlene Whitney, Winnebago.

New Regional Masters: Judy Miller, Belvidere; Tara Mufich, Rockford.

New NABC Master: Donna Cart, Rockford; David Vietti, Cary.

New Life Masters: Julia Kelley, Batavia.

New Gold Life Master: Bob Korte

Tournaments

Elgin Early Spring Sectional - Elgin, IL - March 20 to March 22

CCBA March Sectional at the Clubs - Chicago, IL - March 23 to March 29

District 13 Regional - Lake Geneva, WI - April 20 to April 26

299er Stars of Tomorrow - Rolling Meadows, IL - May 2 to May 3

Illini Memorial Day Regional - Champaign, IL - May 19 to May 25