October 2003 Column

San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif. Unit

Two Sundays to remember: October 12^th and November 9^th, both unit games. Socialize at 5:15; dine at 5:30; play at 6:15 pm. Per ACBL, new members are Eileen Battat, Keith Freeman, Hal Kellerman, Ann Maroney, Ellyne Rabin (unrelated to Bill and Karin) and Carol Tessler. Returning is Diane Finch. Welcome all. Transferring to Houston is Leo Chiang. Good luck Leo. Your many friends will miss you.

ACBL also reported Kiran Nadar and Laura Schmidt became Club Masters. Arnold Erickson made Sectional Master, Sylvia Prozan Regional Master, Mary Armacost NABC Master, J. T. Beck Life Master. David Steirman elevated to Silver Master.

Just last month, we reported that Harry Bonn had accumulated the requisite 1000 MPs and had become a Silver Life Master. Now, we are saddened to report on his passing. He was a dapper dresser and always a sought–after partner and companion. Our condolences to his family and friends.

After our BBQ chicken dinner, the August Unit Game commenced. Overall winners were A: Peter & Kathy Golitzen; Bella Berkovitch & Barbara Goheen and Victor & Betty Szteinbaum. B: Arline & James Van Ness; Sara Rae Miller & Erika Stein and Miwako Litwin & Paul Levine. C: Derlyn Gagnier & Lorraine McCloud and Albert Malouf & Leonor Frankel.

For 498's recent weekend sectional, we had 159 tables in play. We added the popular game of Bracketed Knockouts to our usual repertoire. Kudos to Chair, Fran Ball, who made it all happen and inspired the volunteers she recruited with her tremendous amount of productive work. Fran has put us on track and recorded the steps necessary for a successor to run a successful sectional.

Many 498ers played in the August San Francisco Sectional. Pat Galligan led our parade with just under 15 MPs to edge out partner, Betsey Schneider. Other top scorers were Steve Kanzee, Daisy Straus and Art Quey, First places were won by Pat, Betsey, Daisy, Jan Mrazek, Charley Berger and Bob Rose.

Reports are fragmentary from the Santa Clara Regional. I’ll substitute a personal story and try to organize results for Forum’s next edition. Arlie Lamb and I played in the Bracketed KOs at the Phoenix Nationals with pick up partners last year. We got lucky and won enough Gold to make one of our partners, a lovely lady from Colorado, a Life Master. This year Doris Peacock and I paired with two lovely ladies from Fresno, Barbara Tanaguchi, a Life Master, and Sophia Iwatsubo, who was on the cusp. Together, we won the 4.20 Gold that elevated Sophia to Life Master. Both this year and last, I enjoyed the heady wine of contributing to a wonderful player’s success. Now, I look forward to someone’s joy at helping take me over the hurdle.

—Paul Levine pblevine@juno.com, Fax: (650) 593–2572