CIBA Digest

News from Central Illinois Unit 208

Editor:  Karen Walker, 2121 Lynwood Drive, Champaign   61821
 (217) 359-0042    kwbridge@comcast.net

Illini Regional -- May 19-25, Champaign IL

Thanks to everyone who traveled to Champaign during Memorial Day week to play in our Unit's annual regional. Attendance was up this year and we continue to hear compliments about the Hilton Conference Center and the two adjacent hotels, the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites. If you haven't been to the regional in Champaign the past few years (or ever), we hope you can join us next year. 

Special thanks to the many hard-working volunteers from Champaign's Bridge at Ginger Creek club who made the tournament a success:

John Brandeberry & Maggie Stephens -- Hospitality suite
Pete Petillo & Bob Shair -- Daily Bulletin
Debbie Avery -- Caddies
Bo & Linda Goersch -- Registration
John Seng -- Prizes
Hugh Williams & Richard Blumenthal - Partnerships
Martha Leary -- Novice program
Karen Walker & Mike Halvorsen -- Chairmen

The full list of event winners and points won by all players is here.  Top point winners from our Central Illinois Unit were:

97.67  Karen Walker, Champaign

93.14  Mark Kessler, Springfield

93.14  Colby Vernay, Lacon

70.36  James Melville, Springfield

50.42  Nate Ward, Champaign

50.03  Michael Halvorsen, Champaign

49.73  Dan Bunde, Urbana

32.18  Leah Newell, Springfield

30.16  Paul Holmes, Champaign

26.80  Gary Dell, Champaign

26.28  Peiyi Wang, Urbana

26.14  Bill Lindemann, Champaign

25.03  Dan Faulkner, Monticello

24.65  Martha Leary, Urbana

24.37  Bill Lindemann, Champaign

24.30  Michael Ring, Urbana

24.24  Deborah Avery, Champaign

23.35  Bob Shair, Champaign

22.33  John Seng, Champaign

21.69  David Wetzel, Rantoul

20.78  Gary Dayton, Mahomet

20.76  Cal Corbin, Champaign

20.56  Sherry Steigmann, Urbana

20.56  Bob Steigmann, Urbana

20.46  Claire Krukenberg, Charleston

20.36  Alan Wienman, Morton

19.82  John Maloney, Champaign

19.71  Terry Goodykoontz, Champaign

18.86  Elizabeth Zalar, Springfield

18.24  Larry Wilcox, Springfield

17.81  Randal Malone, Charleston

17.81  Grant Sterling, Charleston

17.28  Thomas Shedlock, Danville

16.75  Dick Benson, Le Roy

16.18  Stephen Hawthorne, Bloomington

15.91  Dariel Richardson, Rochester

15.71  Charles Zalar, Springfield

 In Memory

Players throughout Central Illinois are saddened by the loss of Joyce McEldowney of Dunlap. Joyce, 81, died on April 27 at Proctor Hospital in Peoria.

A Life Master, Joyce was an active player and bridge volunteer. She was a long-time supporter of our Central Illinois tournaments and served as a Board member and as president of the Central Illinois Bridge Association and District 8.

Joyce worked as a medical technologist at Pekin Hospital for about 15 years. She was also an award-winning needlepointer and stitcher. By invitation, some of her work hangs in the White House and castles of the British monarchy.

Joyce was a sweet, friendly and extremely generous woman who brightened our bridge community. She will be greatly missed.
 

Elizabeth Fleming Wilson, 70, of Urbana passed away on May 19 at Carle Hospital in Urbana.

Originally from Chicago, Elizabeth graduated from Urbana High School and attended teaching college. She taught in the Chicago suburbs and in the sociology department at the University of Illinois.

Elizabeth renewed her interest in bridge after retiring from UI and was a regular player at Bridge at Ginger Creek in Champaign. She won the District 8 Flight C Grand National Teams twice and made Life Master last year at the Illini Regional. 

Elizabeth was a classy and beautiful lady, inside and out. Our sympathies go out to her husband, Jerry, and the rest of her family and friends.

Melvyn Regal, formerly of Peoria, died on April 29 in Palm Beach FL. He was 76.

After graduating from Boston College, Mel worked for Stanley Home Products and later served as the chief financial officer for Foster & Gallagher, Inc. in Peoria. He retired in 2001 and he and Rosalyn, his wife of 51 years, moved to Palm Beach. 

Mel, a Life Master, was a mainstay at Central Illinois club games and tournaments during his many years in the Peoria area. He and Rosalyn were also active in community and charitable organizations and sponsored many special exhibits at Peoria's Lakeview Museum. He will be missed by his many friends here.

 Movin' Up:  Congratulations to these Unit members who recently advanced in rank: