March 20th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 4 Comments 
The 2011 von Zedtwitz Award went to one of the veterans of the game .. RUSS ARNOLD. Russ, now living in Florida has been an exemplary inspiration as to what expert bridge should be about – talent, judgment, ethics and fine manners.
Russ underwent a heartbreaking experience when he earned the right to play on my husband Bobby’s Senior Team (winning the Trials) for a trip to Beijing. He is far from destitute but the expenses for an octogenarian to go business class with his s.o. was out of sight and Russ had to decline (replaced by a very competent Ron Smith). With all the money being taken in and so much thrown around by the sponsors, some way should be found to come up with a fund to subsidize those who cannot realistically afford such an enormously expensive trip overseas and don’t have sponsors to foot the bill.
Perhaps the Peter Pender Fund originally intended for the defunct Pendergraph with the remaining balance now in dispute, should disburse some of its remaining money to help subsidize someone who has earned the right to represent the United States but needs some monetary assistance for the enormous bottom line! Knowing Peter, he certainly would have been in favor of such a gesture. Something to think about!
The 2011 Blackwood recipient was ERIC KOKISH, a Canadian, who has given so much of himself for the betterment of the game in countless capacities. The selection is based primarily on outside contributions (not bridge victories) but Eric fills the bill at both ends. Kokish who is the celebrated Coach of the Nickell Team and others is, however, a quite accomplished player, with two North American championships to his credit along with silver medals in the Bermuda Bowl and the World Open Pairs and has been second in the prestigious Reisinger/Spingold/Vanderbilt five times.
Congratulations to our newest deserving electees.
March 18th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 6 Comments
While cleaning out a rather abused desk drawer, I happened upon a deck of Generali playing cards. For those of you not familiar with the name Generali, it is a huge European insurance company and has been the sponsor of World Bridge through, of course, the World Bridge Federation.
The recently-retired WBF President, Jose Damiani, held that position for sixteen years. By profession, he is a public relations and events person and never was there a more fiercely determined individual to go all out to keep the majesty and honor of the game preserved – stopping at nothing.
As I sorted through the mess, I came upon a deck of the special Generali playing cards and I noticed that many of the cards were patterned differently than the standard pack. I questioned Bobby and he immediately supplied the answer but too long to go into all the specifics so I shall give you the basic premise.
Spades, hearts and clubs are non-symmetrical while diamonds held in any position look the same – upside down or downside up – not true of the others. Jose came up with the idea of changing the arrangement of the pips so they were the same right side up or upside down. How? In the instance of the three aces, the pip in the middle is half sized and double printed in both directions so they look the same if placed on the table in either position. The nines were also handled the same way (with a smaller double faced pip in the middle so as not to distinguish which way a card is placed on the table by defenders. Several other cards were redesigned but the aces and nines were the classic example and easier to explain (if I succeeded).
The reason for all this, which I couldn’t believe and it may sound paranoid – is that some defenders had devised systems where placement on the table related some pre-determined information. Using the old cards, if you placed an ace on the table with the point toward partner, if meant one thing. If you chose to place the rounded part toward partner, it meant another. So, today, all cards used by the WBF employ this sort of protection. I don’t think the American card playing companies have adopted this practice as yet, but I could be wrong as I haven’t bought a deck of cards in decades.
I’m still in shock that I never noticed it nor knew about the difference after all the WBF events I kibitzed. Amazing how one learns something new every day!
March 17th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 5 Comments
According to the March 21, 2011 issue of SPORT ILLUSTRATED, appearing on page 20
“Amid criticism for failing to properly officiate the final seconds of a Big East tournament second-round game on March 9, three basketball referees, whose decision to sit out the remainder of the tournament was described by Big East commissioner John Marinatto as “in the best interest of everyone involved.” The officials,—Jim Burr, Tim Higgins and Earl Walton – withdrew a day after officiating St. John’s 65-63 win over Rutgers. In the closing seconds of that game, Red Storm forward Justin Brownlee grabbed a loose ball on a tipped inbounds pass. But while celebrating the apparent victory, Brownlee appeared to travel, then stepped out-of-bounds with 1.7 seconds remaining. Neither violation was called, robbing Rutgers of a deserved last possession. The ending ignited a storm of controversy, including criticism from NCAA National coordinator of men’s basketball officiating, John Adams, who told ESPN, ‘not officiating to the end of a game is unacceptable.’ Marinatto acknowledged that Rutgers should have received an extra possession.”
Here is the classic example of the top brass of the NCAA rising to the occasion and publicly recognizing that three of their employees (referees) had committed a serious faux pas and their erroneous judgment was reflected in their agreeing that these three men not officiate for the remainder of this year’s most prestigious Big East Conference Tournament.
Why cannot the ACBL follow suit with their officials (directors) when they have clearly erred (as in the October 22nd Las Vegas Tournament incident) where the DIRECTORS COMMITTEE THEMSELVES heard the appeal and took it upon themselves to rule CASE CLOSED without the courtesy of hearing the side of the victims – but rather rely on hearsay of the directors themselves who were rushing out to dinner because one had to catch a plane. They should hang their heads in ignominy for taking such a close-minded, biased view of a disgracefully handled situation involving their own flock whom they must believe can do no wrong!!!!!!!!!!!
Hat’s off to the NCAA! Shame on the ACBL!
March 15th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 3 Comments
It seemed to be an unending list – but there is relief in sight. Here goes:
MY MOST VIVID MEMORY OF EDGAR AT THE BRIDGE TABLE IS THAT HE WAS A GREAT COMPETITIOR WHO BOTH WON AND LOST WITH DIGNITY. AWAY FROM THE TABLE HE WAS A PERSON WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THE GAME BETTER AND MORE ENJOYABLE FOR ALL OF US.
APPROXIMATELY TWENTY YEARS AGO I PURCHASED A LIFETIME SUBSCRIPTION TO THE BRIDGE WORLD AT A BARGAIN PRICE OF $125 AND BELIEVED THAT I HAD GOTTEN THE BETTER OF EDGAR. OVER THE YEARS I ESPEWED HIS VIEWS IN THOUGHTS AND DEEDS MORE AND MORE. EVENTUALLY REALIZATION ARRIVED – I HAD BECOME A DISCIPLE. EDGAR HAD GOTTEN THE BETTER OF ME! WE ARE ALL BETTER OFF FOR HAVING BEEN ABLE TO ASSOCIATE WITH EDGAR. /S/ JOHN SUTHERLIN
EDGAR WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE I MOST ENJOYED SEEING AT THE NATIONALS. BEING APPOINTED TO THE LAWS COMMISSION WAS A THRILL. I SOON LEARNED THAT ONE WASN’T JUST EDUCATED AT THE LAWS MEETINGS. HE AND RALPH COHEN MADE IT A HIGHLIGHT AT THE NATIONALS. A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR EDGAR HAD. WE WEREN’T JUST EDUCATED ON LAWS AT THE LAWS COMMISSION MEETING. WE WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE GREATEST. /S/ PEGGY BERRY SUTHERLIN
I MET EDGAR IN 1958 AS A SCORE CADDY; AND THEN AS THE YEARS ROLLED BY, I NEW HIM AS ONE OF MY DAD’S TEAMMATES, AS A FELLOW GNYBA BOARD MEMBER, AN OPPONENT, A PARTNER AND EVENTUALLY, AS A TEAMMATE. EDGAR WAS AT HIS BEST AS A GNYBA AND ACBL BOARD MEMBER. IN THOSE DAYS THE GNYBA WAS A HOTBED OF IDEALISM, GREAT IDEAS, HIGH HOPES AND LOTS OF ORATORY. EDGAR WAS THE AUTHORITY ON ALL THAT WENT ON. WHEN THERE WERE TWO (OR MORE) SIDES TO AN ISSUE, HE EMPLOYED HIS ONE-TWO PUNCH – GREAT WIT AND INCISIVE LOGIC – TO PERSUADE MYSELF AND OTHERS AS TO THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION.
MY BRIDGE HIGHLIGHT WITH EDGAR OCCURRED WHEN WE WON THE 1981 VANDERBILT. HE PLAYED ALL THE BOARDS, SOME WITH MY 76-YEAR OLD FATHER, AND BEAT THE ACES IN THE FINAL. EDGAR’S TEAMS ALWAYS CONSISTED OF WELL LIKED PEOPLE AND HIS MANY VICTORIES WERE POPULAR AMONGST HIS PEERS. EDGAR STOOD BY HIS OWN ADAGE — “I ONLY PLAY ON TEAMS WITH PEOPLE I WOULD HAVE DINNER WITH.’”
EVERYONE IN THE BRIDGE WORLD HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY EDGAR’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GAME. I CAN THINK OF NO OTHER BRIDGE PLAYER WHOSE LOSS WOULD BE MORE FELT THAN HIS. /S/ MIKE BECKER
EDITH AND I SHARED WITH EDGAR MANY THINGS AWAY FROM THE BRIDGE TABLE WHICH EVOKE FOND MEMORIES. TRIPS TO FOREIGN COUNTIES, ENJOYING THE LOCAL CUISINE AND GOOD WINES, ANIMATED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HISTORY AND CULTURE, SPICED WITH ANECDOTES, EMERGE WITH GREAT CLARITY. OUR COMMON INTEREST IN TENNIS MANIFESTED ITSELF DURING OUR VISITS TO THE U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS. MY SERVICE IN THE LAWS COMMISSION DURING EDGAR’S CHAIRMANSHIP REINFORCED MY ADMIRATION OF HIS CLEAR THINKING AND BRILLIANT ANALYTICAL ABILITIES.
I OFTEN CALLED HIM ABOUT A POINT IN BRIDGE THEORY, AND HE NEVER FAILED TO PRODUCE APPROPRIATE CRITICAL ADVICE. HE WAS THE EXPERT’S EXPERT, BUT ABOVE ALL, A TRUE FRIEND. HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH NORMAN ESTABLISHED THE HIGHEST STANDARD IN THE BRIDGE WORLD. REST IN PEACE DEAR FRIEND. YOUR PLACE AT THE BRIDGE GAME IN THE HEAVENLY HALL OF FAME IS WAITING FOR YOU. /S/ EDITH AND GEORGE ROSENKRANZ
“WHEN TO THE SESSIONS OF SWEET SILENT THOUGHT I SUMMON UP REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST.’ I FIRST MET EDGAR WHILE STILL A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, LEARNING SHAKESPEARE AND BRIDGE, NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT ORDER.
IT WAS MY FIRST NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AND HE WAS MY FIRST ROUND DRAW. I SENSED, IN MY FIRST OF NUMEROUS LOSSES TO HIM, A KINDRED SPIRIT THAT CONTINUED TO EXPAND THROUGH THE YEARS, A MAN WHO TRULY LOVED AND RESPECTED THE GAME OF BRIDGE AND WHO PLAYED IT COMPETITIVELY, AS A GENTLEMAN, UNDER ITS RULES. AFTER ONE OF US HAD LOST A CLOSE MATCH WE BEMUSEDLY DISCUSSED KIPLING’S LINE “IF YOU CAN MEET WITH TRIUMPH AND DISASTER AND TREAT THOSE TWO IMPOSTERS JUST THE SAME.” A FINE LINE, PERHAPS. BUT WE DEFINITELY HAD A MEETING OF THE MINDS .
WITH FOND REMEMBRANCES! /S/ SUZY AND CHUCK BURGER
WHEN MY MOTHER WAS IN THE HOSPITAL LAST YEAR, EDGAR SENT HER A WONDERFUL NOTE CALLING HER A FIGHTER AND EXPRESSING HIS CONFIDENCE SHE WOULD WIN THE BATTLE. THE NOTE MEANT A LOT TO MOM WHO HAD BEEN A FRIEND OF EDGAR’S SINCE THEIR COLLEGE DAYS (1942) AND WHO RESPECTED HIM GREATLY. OF COURSE, THEY WERE BOTH GREAT FIGHTERS IN THE BEST SENSE OF THE WORD – NEVER GIVING UP AND ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION ALAS, DESPITE MONUMENTAL FIGHTS, DEATH PREVAILED. I LIKE TO THINK OF THEM RELIVING THEIR CORNELL YOUTH IN BRIDGE PLAYER’S HEAVEN. /S/ BONNIE BRIER
PRESSURE. WHAT IS THAT?
FOR ME I THINK BACK TO THE 1976 VANDERBILT FINAL. IT WAS MY FIRST FORAY INTO THE HIGH LEVELS OF BRIDGE. I WAS A BIT NERVOUS, BUT MY PARTNER, THE LATE JIM JACOBY, HAD DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF KEEPING ME CALM. I WAS READY TO PLAY! THEY COULDN’T BEAT ME (THEY DID)! WHOOPS, EDGAR WALKS INTO THE ROOM. OH NO, HE’S COMING TO KIBBITZ ME, AND HE’S GOT A PEN AND PAPER
PRESSURE, WHAT IS THAT?
I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO VUGRAPH COMMENTATING. I AM PLEASED THAT THE POWERS THAT BE CONSIDER ME FOR THIS POSITION. I’M SETTLING IN BEHIND THE MIKE, WHEN, ONCE AGAIN EDGAR SITS BESIDES ME. YIKES, WHAT IF I MISANALYZE A HAND WHAT IF I SAY SOMETHING THAT IS FUNNY TO ME AND NO ONE ELSE? ALL I LIVE FOR AT THAT MOMENT IS ONE REMARK THAT EVOKES A MILD SMILE FROM EDGAR. YOU COULDN’T HOPE FOR MORE THAN THAT.
THAT IS PRESSURE.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, ALMOST EVERYONE WHO FELT THE PRESSURE OF BEING AROUND EDGAR, DID THEIR BEST. THAT IS WHAT I WILL MISS MOST ABOUT HIM. HE ALWAYS BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE, AND HE WILL BE MISSED. /S/ DAVID BERKOWITZ
IF I HAD TO DESCRIBE EDGAR IN ONE WORD, IT WOULD BE ‘WITTY.’ WHENEVER WE WOULD SPEAK, OR I’D ASK HIM A QUESTION, I JUST KNEW THAT HIS REPLY WOUDL BE CLEVER. YOU COULD INQUIRE ‘HOW DID YOU DO IN THE TOURNAMENT?’ AND BE ASSURED HIS REPLY WOULD NOT BER A SIMPLE ‘WELL’ OR ‘NOT WELL’ INSTEAD, YOU’D ANTICIPATE AND RECEIVE SOME CLEVER, MAYBE SELF-DEPRECATING, WORDS OF WIT, PERHAPS … ‘WELL, THAT DEPENDS ON..’ THEN HE’D ALEAYS PROCEED TO EMPLOY WORDS I’D NEVER HEARD OF WHILE RENDERING A HUMOROUS, PHILOSOPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF HIS TOURNAMENT. /S/ LARRY COHEN
I AM SORRY THAT I MISSED THE DEADLINE, BUT WHO ON EARTH COULD POSSIBLY SHARE THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES OF EDGAR IN A LINE OR TWO? EDGAR KAPLAN IS IRREPLACEABLE. IF SAMUEL JOHNSON WAS RIGHT WHEN HE WROTE “GRIEF IS A SPECIES OF IDLENESS,’” THEN I AM AN IDLER.
EDGAR WAS ONE OF FIVE FRIENDS WHOM I LOST WITHIN A PERIOD OF 10 DAYS .. SO THE GOLDEN YEARS ARE NOT GOING WELL.
I WAS DELIGHTED WHEN EDGAR AGREED READILY TO JOIN ME, RAPEE AND SOLODAR IN BERMUDA. HIS PRESENCE ADDED IMMENSE LUSTRE TO THE TOURNAMENT. HE PLAYED BRIDGE WIH ELAN AND CUSTOMARY EXPERTISE, DELIGHTED THE PANEL AUDIENCE, ENTERTAINED US ALL AT DINNER AND INSISTED ON JOINING US ON AN EXPEDIITON TO THE ZOO AND AQUARIUM – ALL THE TIME SUFFERING IN SILENCE. /s/ GOREN OF THE NORTH (AS EDGAR SO QUAINTLY NAMED ME) .. alias ERIC R. MURRAY
The following are what I called Late Plays which came in after the program went to press, but I added them nevertheless …
WHEN BILL AND I WERE FIRST ENGAGED, HE TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITALITY ROOM AT THE 1956 NATIONALS IN NEW YORK WHERE HE INTRODUCED ME TO EDGAR. EDGAR’S WELCOME, HIS CONVERSATION DURING THAT EVENING, AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENT ENCOUNTERS, ENDEARED HIM TO ME. HE FIELDED QUESTIONS ON BRIDGE IMPARTIALLY (IF NOT SO SWIFTLY), JUST LISTENED CAREFULLY, AND TO ME WAS ALWAYS A COMPLEAT PERSON OUTSIDE OF BRIDGE, AS WELL AS AN EVEN-TEMPERED AND FEROCIOUS COMPETITOR. THEY DON’T MAKE THEM LIKE THAT ANY MORE. BRIDGE WILL MISS HIM. /S/ EUNICE ROSEN
WHEN I WAS QUITE A YOUNG BRIDGE PLAYER EDGAR TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING DURING A VISIT TO NEW YORK. HE TOOK ME TO SEE SIDNEY LENZ, A NOTED EARLY BRIDGE STAR. SINCE THEN I ALWAYS THOUGHT FONDLY OF EDGAR AS LOOKING TO THE PAST OF BRIDGE, BEING A GREAT PLAYER IN THE PRESENT, AND HELPING TO IMPROVE AND SHEPHERD BRIDGE INTO THE FUTURE. /S/ BILL ROSEN
EDGAR WAS SO MUCH OF THE BRIDGE WORLD FOR ME; I ADMIRED HIS GREAT WIT FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE I EVER MET HIM. WHEN I MET HIM TWLEVE YEARS AGO, HE BECAME ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES TO MOSTLY ENJOY FROM A BIT OF A DISTANCE; HE WAS SUCH A BRIGHT AND WITTY MAN! HOW FORTUNATE THAT HE COULD ALSO BE SO KIND. /S/ SALLY WOOLSEY
TO ME, EDGAR WILL ALWAYS BE THE LAWS AND ETHICS SPECIALIST OF BRIDGE. IN FACT, HE WROTE SO MUCH OF THE LAWS OF BRIDGE, THE BOOK SHOULD BE CALLED “EDGAR KAPLAN’S LAWS OF BRIDGE.” HE DID SO MANY THINGS FOR THE GAME AND HIS ENTHUSIASM NEVER DIMINSHED.
LAST YEAR IN RHODES, I WAS FORTUNATE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH EDGAR. I MARVELLED AT HIS SCHEDULE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE APPEALS COMMITTEE IN THE MORNING, CHIEF COMMENTATOR FOR THE AFTERNOON AND NIGHT SESSIONS AND IN BETWEEN CHAIRING THE WBF LAWS COMMITTEE, HE EVEN FOUND TIME TO PLAY A FEW SESSIONS IN THE MIXED TEAMS … AND THIS FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS FIGHTING CANCER.
WHEN EDGAR HAD SOMETHING TO SAY, THE WORLD LISTENED. THANK YOU, EDGAR, FOR YOUR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GAME WE ALL LOVE. /S/ DAN MORSE
And fittingly our last tribute is from the recently retired (2010) JOSE DAMIANI, after sixteen years as President of the WBF…..
AS PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BRIDGE FEDERATION AND ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, I MOURN THE LOSS OF OUR DEAR FRIEND, EDGAR KAPLAN. EDGAR’S GIFT TO BRIDGE WAS NOT ONLY AS A WORLD CLASS PLAYER BUT ALSO AS THE CAPTAIN OF THE WINNING TEAM IN THE 1995 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WBF WERE ENORMOUS. EDGAR WAS CLEARLY THE BEST COMMENTATOR WE EVER HAD ON VUGRAPH, WHERE HIS HUMOUR WAS BRILLIANT AND NEVER OFFENSIVE.
EDGAR’S DEATH IS A GREAT LOSS, NOT ONLY FOR BRIDGE, BUT ALSO FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PLAY THE GAME AND FOR WHOM EDGAR COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE MOST COURTEOUS FRIEND. WE ALL MISS THE ‘GENTLEMAN OF BRIDGE.’
IN HONOR OF EDGAR KAPLAN, THE WORLD BRIDGE FEDERATION FLAG WAS FLOWN AT HALF MAST DURING THE TOURNAMENT IN HAMMAMET, TUNISIA. /S/ JOSE DAMIANI
March 14th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 2 Comments
You could have knocked me over with a feather when I received am email (actually a blog comment) from Peg Kaplan telling me about the renaming of the above for my late husband, Norman. I had not seen the March 11th Daily Bulletin which bore the following information.
Platinum Pairs renamed
The ACBL Board of Directors has unanimously approved the renaming of the Platinum Pairs to the Norman Kay Platinum Pairs. The three-day event will be played starting today for the second time. The decision means that the names of both members of one of the best-known pairs in bridge annals – Edgar Kaplan and Norman Kay – are now on two of the ACBL’s premier pairs events. The Blue Ribbon Pairs was renamed the Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs several years ago.
Norman would have been honored to have such a prestigious event named for him and on his behalf, I thank those who were instrumental in the decision.
March 13th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 2 Comments
Here you will find the third segment of tributes to the late Edgar Kaplan from people across the miles who could not be present at Honors in person to pay their last respects ……
WHEN I REMEMBER EDGAR, I WILL ALWAYS RECALL A PHONE CALL FROM MY PARENTS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THEY ARE NOT DUPLICATE BRIDGE PLAYERS, BUT THEY HEARD THAT I JUST HAD AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE BRIDGE WORLD. BEING VERY EXCITED AND WANTING COPIES FOR SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, THEY CALLED THE BRIDGE WORLD. WHEN THEY TOLD ME OF THE CALL, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD A VERY NICE CHAT WITH A MAN NAMED EDGAR WHO ARRANGED FOR THEM TO RECEIVE SEVERAL COPIES TO PASS AROUND THE FAMILY. AT THE TIME I AM NOT SURE EDGAR EVEN KNEW ME, BUT THAT DIDN’T KEEP HIM FROM RESPONDING TO THEIR REQUEST.
I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT HE WAS WILLING TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE MY MOTHER AND FATHER VERY HAPPY. /S/ STEVE BEATTY
WHEN I FIRST PLAYED ON A TEAM WITH EDGAR KAPLAN, I HAD TO GO THROUGH A REALITY CHECK, ‘AM I REALLY ON THE SAME TEAM WITH THE LEGEND OF BRIDGE?’ I WAS APPREHENSIVE AT FIRST, BUT EDGAR’S WARMTH AND HUMOR QUICKLY MADE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE. AT THE TIME I HAD JUST LOST MY FATHER, AND EDGAR HELPED FILL THE GAP AS HE BECAME A ROLE MODEL FOR ME. AS A BRIDGE MENTOR EDGAR TAUGHT ME MANY THINGS; ONE THAT STANDS OUT WAS HIS MENTAL APPROACH TO A BRIDGE MATCH. ‘YOU DON’T HAVE TO WIN IT; YOU JUST HAVE TO NOT LOSE IT.’ /S/ RICHARD PAVLICEK
I MET EDGAR BEFORE I EVEN KNEW HOW TO PLAY BRIDGE. HE WAS MORE THAN A GREAT MAN IN BRIDGE, HE WAS A LEGEND AND AN ICON OF OUR TIME. I AM SURE HIS NAME AND INFLUENCE WILL BE FOREVER WITH US.
AFTER C.C.’ S DEATH, I OFTEN TELL MY FRIENDS THAT WHEN I OPEN MY HAND ONE CLUB, I WOULD SEE C. C.’ S FACE SMILING AT ME. IN EDGAR’S CASE, WHEN YOU PICK UP ANY BRIDGE HAND, YOU WILL SEE EDGAR’S FACE LOOKING AND GUIDING YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES IN YOUR BRIDGE LIFE.
I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE KNOWN SUCH A GIANT OF A MAN. BRIDGE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT EDGAR. I DO HOPE THAT WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER WHAT HE TAUGHT US IN BRIDGE AND MAKE HIM PROUD OF WHAT WE CAN DO FOR BRIDGE IN THE EDGAR WAY! /S/ KATHY WEI-SENDER
EDGAR KAPLAN WAS AN ICON TO SO MANY PEOPLE – I WAS ONE. HIS SPARKLING WIT AND MAGNIFICENT COMMAND OF LANGUAGE WERE ONLY TWO OF THE MANY REASONS EDGAR WAS SO EXCITIG TO BE WITH. HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING AND INTERESTING PERSONS I HAVE EVER KNOWN – EDGAR JUST WASN’T HERE LONG ENOUGH!
I SHALL MISS HIM TERRIBLY, BUT THESE MEMORIES WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME /S/ LOUISE FREEMAN
EDGAR CONTRIBUTED TO BRIDGE IN A GREAT MANY WAYS, AND DID THEM ALL WELL. I’LL REMEMBER HIM AS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST COMPETITORS, AND AS THE VERY BEST VUGRAPH COMMENTATOR. /S/ LEW STANSBY
ONE OF MY FONDEST MEMORIES OF THE BRIDGE WORLD WAS KNOWING EDGAR KAPLAN – A GENTLEMAN IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD AND A GREAT BRIDGE PLAYER WITH FEW EQUALS.
I WILL MISS HIM. /S/ EDITH KEMP FREILICH
EDGAR AND MY LATE HUSBAND, JIM, WERE GOOD FRIENDS. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME KIND OF BANTERING GOING ON BETWEEN THEM WHENEVER THEY SAW EACH OTHER AT TOURNAMENTS. I NEVER KNEW WHEN THEY WERE SERIOUS OR JUST KIDDING. HOWEVER, I ALWAYS KNEW THAT THEY HAD GREAT RESPECT AND AFFECTION FOR ONE ANOTHER.
EDGAR WILL BE TRULY MISSED. /S/ JUDY JACOBY
TO EDGAR WITH LOVE ..
YOU KNOW EDGAR, WHEN A GUY LIKE YOU GOES, EVERYONE TRIES TO TELL OF YOUR MANY CONTRIBUTIONS AND YOUR CHARACTER. THEY ALL FALL SHORT.
THE VACUUM YOUR PASSING HAS CREATED IN OUR CRAZY WORLD IS IMMENSE. DESPITE THIS, I SELFISHLY WILL MOST MISS THE TIMES WE SPENT JUST CHATTING ABOUT ALMOST ANYTHING. /S/ DANNY ROTMAN
EDGAR WAS THE GREAT GURU. HE WAS MY COACH IN THE FIRST BERMUDA BOWL I PLAYED. HE WAS MY CAPTAIN IN THE LAST ONE THAT I WON. I NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF PLAYING WITH HIM AS A PARTNER, BUT AS MY OPPONENT, HE WAS BOTH A PLEASURE AND A NIGHTMARE. HE LIFTED MY SCALP IN THE FINALS OF MORE VANDERBILTS THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER. SOME OF MY SWEETEST VICTORIES WERE WHEN I PREVAILED AGAINST EDGAR, AND MANY OF MY MOST PAINFUL DEFEATS WERE AT HIS HANDS. EDGAR WAS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR SPORT. HE KNEW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE. IF ANYONE DESERVED THE TITLE “MR. BRIDGE.” IT WAS EDGAR.
A RESPECTED OPPONENT, A FRIEND AND FOE. DAMN THAT MAN WORE MANY HATS. HE IS GREATLY MISSED. /S/ BOB HAMMAN
EDGAR WAS A GREAT BRIDGE PLAYER AND A TRUE GENTLEMAN. HAVING NOT PLAYED WELL AS EDGAR’S TEAMMATE IN A PAST TEAM TRIALS, IT WAS ESPECIALLY GRATIFING TO WIN THE BERMUDA BOWL WITH EDGAR IN 1995. HE WAS A GREAT CAPTAIN. I DOUBT WE WOULD HAVE WON WITHOUT HIM. /S/ JEFF MECKSTROTH
IT DID NOT MATTER TO EDGAR WHETHER YOU WERE GREAT OR SMALL, FAMOUS OR UNKNOWN. HE ALWAYS TREATED YOU WITH THE SAME DEGREE OF FRIENDLINESS, KINDNESS AND RESPECT … NO MATTER WHO YOU WERE. WE WILL MISS HIM. /S/ MIN AND HUGH ROSS
EDGAR WAS A KIND AND GENEROUS MAN. HE UNDERSTOOD PEOPLE, BRIDGE, WINE AND FOOD. ALL THE IMPORTANT THINGS. I WILL MISS HIM MORE THAN I CAN EXPRESS. /S/ GERRY CHARNEY
EDGAR PASSED AWAY ABOUT A WEEK AFTER THE CAR WRECK THAT KILLED PRINCESS DIANA. EDGAR WASN’T AS PRETTY OR GLAMOROUS AS PRINCESS DIANA, BUT HE WAS JUST AS CHARMING. LIKE THE PRINCESS, HE WAS LIGHT IN THIS WORLD. ALTHOUGH I HADN’T SEEN HIM FOR OVER TWO YEARS, MY FEELINGS FOR HIM WERE AS STRONG AS EVER AND MY SORROW OVER HIS PASSING WILL NEVER GO AWAY. /S/ PAMELA GRANOVETTER
I FIRST MET EDGAR WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD. HE INVITED ME TO HIS WEEKLY GAME AT HIS HOME ON WEST 94TH STREET. THERE I WAS PRIVILEGED TO MEET HIS WIFE, BETTY, AND MANY LEGENDARY PLAYERS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LESSON I LEARNED FROM THESE MEETINGS WAS THAT TO BE A POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL PLAYER, YOU HAD TO KEEP CALM AND BE POLITE. MANNERS WERE AS IMPORTANT AS ABILITY.
EDGAR HAD NO CHILDREN AND BETTY PASSED AWAY YEARS AGO, BUT HE LEAVES BEHIND A VAST NUMBER OF WONDERFUL WRITINGS, AND A LEGACY OF HOW TO BE A WINNER AND WARM HUMAN BEING AT THE SAME TIME. /S/ MATTHEW GRANOVETTER
EDGAR WILL GO DOWN IN BRIDGE HISTORY AS THE PERSON WHO HAD THE MOST SIGNICANT IMPACT ON THE GAME. HE INFLUENCED EVERY ASPECT OF BRIDGE. THIS IS BECAUSE HE WAS INTERESTED IN CLUB LEVEL BRIDGE AND CHARITY PROGRAMS AS HE WAS IN TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.
NO PERSON HAD WON THE RESPECT OF HIS PEERS MORE THAN EDGAR. WE HAD THE RARE OCCURRENCE WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO THE COMMITTEE OF HONOR, THE WORLD BRIDGE FEDERATION’S HIGHEST AWARD, THAT HE WAS A UNANIMOUS SELECTION FROM ELECTORS ALL OVER THE WORLD! /S/ JIM ZIMMERMAN
IN THE WORLD OF BRIDGE EDGAR WAS A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS – AND HE MADE THE BEST BLOODY MARY’S. /S/ SAMI KEHELA
EDGAR WAS A GIANT IN THE WORLD OF BRIDGE. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS HUMOR, HIS KEEN MIND AND HIS PENETRATING ANALYSES OF THE MOST DIFFICULT HANDS. EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM HAS SUFFERED A UNIQUE LOSS. /S/ BENITO GAROZZO
THERE WAS SO MUCH TO ADMIRE ABOUT EDGAR. HIS BRILLIANT MIND, HIS IMMENSE TALENTS AS A BRIDGE PLAYER AND WRITER, THE COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS HE HAS MADE TO OUR GAME. ABOVE ALL, HE WAS A MAN OF GREAT CHARACTER, DEFINING INTEGRITY, KINDNESS AND CHARM. /S/ SHERI WEINSTOCK and FRED GITELMAN
BRIDGE WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF MY LIFE FROM ABOUT 1957 TO 1980. IT WAS A HOBBY OFFERING STIMULATION, COMPETITION AND FRIENDSHIPS WHICH LASTED A VIRTUAL LIFETIME. AMONG THE LATTER, IT WAS MY GREAT FORTUNE TO BE FRIENDS WITH EDGAR.
EDGAR WAS EVERYTHING THAT I FOUND ATTRACTIVE ABOUT BRIDGE. HE WAS MULTI-TALENTED, WITTY, ANALYTICAL AND EVER COURTEOUS. BEYOND THESE QUALITIES HE WAS A GENTLEMAN. THAT TERM HAS LOST A LOT OF ITS MEANING IN THE LAST THIRTY OR SO YEARS. MORE IS THE PITY! I WILL MISS EDGAR AND SO WILL BRIDGE. /S/ ANDY GABRILOVITCH
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING AND PLAYING AGAINST EDGAR OVER A SPAN OF FOUR DECADES:
AS A YOUNG KID IN AN AIR FORCE UNIFORM IN THE LATE 60’s.
AS A WILD LONG-HAIRED HIPPIE IN THE 70’s;
AS A BRASH TERROR IN THE 80’s; AND
AS A SEMI MATURE ADULT IN THE 90’s.
IN ALL THAT TIME, I NEVER SAW EDGAR LOSE HIS COOL OR POISE AT THE BRIDGE TABLE. HE WAS ALWAYS COMPLIMENTARY TOWARD HIS PARTNER (EVEN BRIAN GLUBOK) AND ALWAYS PLEASANT AND NEVER CONDESCENDING TO HIS OPPONENTS. THE GREATEST IMPACT EDGAR HAD ON ME PERSONALLY WAS HIS LEGENDARY PHILOSOPHY: ‘ YOU DON’T HAVE TO WIN MATCHES – JUST SIT BACK AND LET THE OPPONENTS BEAT THEMSELVES.’ HE WAS TRULY AN EXCEPTIONAL HUMAN BEING AND WE WILL ALL MISS HIM. /S/ MIKE PASSELL
1967. MY GENERATION DISCOVERED BRIDGE. EDGAR AND HIS VERSION OF ‘THE BRIDGE WORLD’ ENTERED OUR LIVES SERENDIPITOUSLY. WE WERE HOOKED FOREVER EDGAR WAS THE GURU FOR THOUSANDS OF US – OUR ORACLE. THE AMAZING THING THAT EDGAR HAD THIS EFFECT ON SO MANY OF US WITHOUT PROSELYTIZING. MY LOVE FOR THE GAME CAME FROM READING EDGAR’S WORDS. TO LATER COUNT HIM AS A FRIEND WAS SOMETHING WORTH TREASURING. /S/ ERIC KOKISH
The next group will close Reflections from Across the Miles – our tribute to the incredible Edgar Kaplan. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed laboring over the computer for hours on end. Part IV will conclude the remaining friends of Edgar who are still with us. The remarks of the deceased were quoted under TO EDGAR WITH LOVE (Part I).
March 12th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 3 Comments
I have received both comments and private emails asking to release the other remarks of those who adored Edgar and are still around today, over thirteen years after Edgar’s death. Bear with me as I will have to do it in two or three sittings as there were so many responses to my request for tributes when Edgar died back in 1997. They are not one-liners. His friends, disciples, admirers, partners and teammates really poured their hearts out – some very touching – others quite humorous. Edgar was a man for all seasons as you will continue to read REFLECTIONS … From Across the Miles
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
IN 1960 I HAD JUST LOST THE LIFE MASTER’S INDIVIDUAL BY 1/2 POINT. EDGAR, SEEING ME DEPRESSED, TOLD ME HAD I WON THE TOURNAMENT, HE WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED PLAYING WITH ME FOR A FEE OF $5,000. WITH HIS DRY WIT, I WASN’T SURE IF HE WAS SERIOUS. BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BARGAIN FOR ME!!
I’LL MISS YOU OLD FRIEND AND TEAMMATE. /S/ ARTHUR ROBINSON
BECAUSE OUR NAMES WERE SO SIMILAR I FREQUENTLY BASKED IN EDGAR’S REFLECTED GLORY. I CAN’T COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES I WAS CONGRATULATED FOR BOOKS I DIDN’T WRITE, TOURNAMENTS I DIDN’T WIN, AND CLASSES I DIDN’T TEACH. AT FIRST I USED TO SAY, ‘NO THAT’S NOT ME. THAT’S EDGAR KAPLAN FROM NEW YORK’. AFTER A WHILE I JUST NODDED AND THANKED EVERYONE, TELLING THEM NOTHING. EDGAR WOULDN’T HAVE MINDED.
THE ONLY GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS EXPERIENCES I EVER HAD WITH EDGAR WAS SITTING DOWN AT HIS TABLE WHEN HE WAS PLAYING WITH NORMAN. THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT THERE WERE TWO OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE, SO TRADING HELLOS, ETC. WAS ALWAYS FUN. THE BAD NEWS WAS THAT GETTING A GOOD RESULT FROM THESE GUYS WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH. SO LONG PAL. YOU’LL BE MISSED. /S/ EDDIE KANTAR
SADLY, TWO OF THE GIANTS OF THE GAME, EDGAR KAPLAN AND ALFRED SHEINWOLD, HAVE BEEN LOST THIS YEAR. DURING THEIR CAREERS THEY PROVED THAT NOT ONLY WERE THEY THE BEST AT WRITING, ANALYZING AND PLAYING THE GAME, THEY WERE MASTERS OF THE WAY BRIDGE PLAYERS SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES AT THE TABLE AND AWAY FROM THE TABLE. I CHOSE MY HEROES WELL AND WILL MISS THEM SORELY. /S/ JOHN SWANSON (Excerpt from an article published in the Southern California Bridge News)
WHILE ALFRED AND I WERE MARRIED FOR TWENTY-FOUR YEARS, UNFORTUNATELY, I NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW EDGAR AS WELL AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED. HOWEVER, HE IMMEDIATELY WELCOMED ME INTO THE “FAMILY OF BRIDGE” WITH WARMTH AND LOVE. I’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM AS A VERY ERUDITE GENTLEMAN FULL OF LOVE AND HUMOR.
ALFRED REVERED AND RESPECTED EDGAR. THEY WOULD TALK AT LENGTH ABOUT MANY THINGS … MUSIC, LITERATURE AND OF COURSE, BRIDGE! /S/ PAULA SHEINWOLD
THE BREADTH OF EDGAR’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GAME IS PHENOMENAL AND UNPRECEDENTED. AS A RESULT HE EARNED THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF BRIDGE PLAYERS WORLDWIDE AND IN TURN ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS THE GUARDIAN OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE GAME.
AS A FRIEND HE WAS THOUGHTFUL AND COMPASSIONATE. ONE OF HIS MOST ENDEARING TRAITS WAS HIS KNACK FOR MAKING EACH ONE OF US FEEL WE WERE SPECIAL. THE WORLD OF BRIDGE HAS LOST AN IRREPLACEABLE LEADER. WE HAVE LOST A GOOD FRIEND AND WILL MISS HIM GREATLY. /S/CAROL AND TOMMY SANDERS
EDGAR WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST CULTURED PERSON I HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED. NOT ONLY IS CULTURE A QUALITY I HOLD IN GREAT ESTEEM, BUT I EQUALLY ADMIRED THE FACT THAT HE WAS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ENJOYED, ALL THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE. I ALWAYS BREATHED A SIGH OF RELIEF WHEN HE GAVE A ‘THUMBS UP’ TO A RESTAURANT I HAD SUGGESTED. /S/ BETSEY WOLFF
AFTER LOSING TO EDGAR AND A YOUNG UPSTART NAMED KAY 20 STRAIGHT TIMES IN SOME 40 YEARS OF COMPETITION, I DO INDEED HAVE A PERSPECTIVE OF EDGAR. HIS METICULOUS, SURGICAL-LIKE PLAY MADE LOSING TO HIM A CERTAINTY, BUT WHAT I BEST REMEMBERED ABOUT HIM WAS HIS STERN, GENTLEMANLY, BUT FRIENDLY DEMEANOR, WITH NEVER A BAD WORD TO PARTNER OR OPPONENT. THIS, COMBINED WITH HIS WRY, DRY, WITTY SENSE OF HUMOR MADE LOSING TO HIM PALATABLE, AND ALMOST A PLEASURE. /S/ RUSS ARNOLD
WHEN I BEGAN COOMPETITIVE BRIDGE IN THE MID-SIXTIES, I REGARDED EDGAR KAPLAN WITH AWE – AND 30 YEARS LATER, I STILL FELT THAT WAY. EVERYONE KNOWS OF EDGAR’S FEATS AS A PLAYER, BIDDING THEORIST AND ADMINISTRATOR, BUT IT WAS AS A WRITER THAT HE WAS A MODEL AND AN INSPIRATION TO ME. HIS ARTICLES WERE THE EPITOME OF TASTE. HIS ANALYSIS WAS PURE, AND HIS PROSE WAS CONCISE WITHOUT BEING TRENCHANT, CAREFUL WITHOUT BEING PEDANTIC, AND WITTY WITHOUT BEING UNKIND.
I ALWAYS REGARADED EDGAR NOT ONLY WITH ADMIRATION, BUT WITH GRATITUDE. IN 1978 HE PUBLISHED MY FIRST ARTTICLE, AND BUT FOR THAT, I MIGHT HAVE GONE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
I WAS HONORED TO CALL EDGAR A FRIEND, AND I WILL MISS HIM. /S/ FRANK STEWART
THE BRIDGE WORLD HAS LOST A GIANT. I WAS A FRIEND OF EDGAR’S FOR FORTY YEARS. HE WAS A GENTLE MAN AND HAD A MARVELOUS SENSE OF HUMOR. I WILL MISS HIM. /S/ MARY JANE FARELL
E = EVERY MAN’S FRIEND
D = DEDICATED TO FAIR PLAY
G = GAME OF BRIDGE THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE
A = ALWAYS THERE FOR ME
R = RALLIED TO HELP THOSE LESS FORTUNATE
K = KIND
A = ALWAYS WITH HIS DRY SENSE OF HUMOR
P = PLEASED BY HIS LOVE OF MUSIC
L = LOYALTY
A = ANGER NOT IN HIS VOCABULARY
N = NEVER COMPLAINED
MY PERSONAL LOSS IS DIFFICULT TO PUT IN WORDS. I HAVE A HOLE IN MY HEART THAT CAN NEVER BE FILLED. /S/ BILLY EISENBERG
OUR GAME HAS SUSTAINED A GREAT LOSS – A GIANT IS GONE . EDGAR WAS MY FRIEND, CONFIDANT, AND MENTOR FOR OVER 25 YEARS. ALL WHO WORKED WITH HIM TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY AND STRUCTURE OF BRIDGE WERE ENRICHED BY HIS LOVE AND RESPECT FOR OUR GAME. THE CUFFLINKS HE ‘LENT’ ME YEARS AGO ARE TREASURED REMINDERS OF HIS VIGILANCE. /S/ WILLIAM J. SCHODER (“KOJAK”)
IN 1968 ON A VISIT TO NEW YORK CITY, I (A YOUNG WOULD-BE LAWYER AND BRIDGE PLAYER) WAS ‘ADOPTED’ BY EDGAR AND BETTY WHEN I MET THEM WHILE STOPPING IN AT THE BRIDGE WORLD OFFICES ONE DAY. THUS I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CALLING EDGAR ‘FRIEND’ ALL OF MY ADUT LIFE. ‘LOVE’ IS NOT TOO STRONG A WORD TO USE TO DESCRIBE MY FEELINGS TOWARD EDGAR, THE MAN I RESPECT MORE THAN ANY OTHER. THE BRIDGE WORLD HAS LOST ITS GREATEST INTELLECT AND I HAVE LOST MY FRIEND AND HERO. /S/ JOEY SILVER
EDGAR WAS REALLY MY IDOL IN BRIDGE FROM EARLY ON. IN ADDITION TO TAKING UP KS AS MY SYSTEM OF CHOICE, THE BRIDGE WORLD WAS VERY MUCH MY WINDOW BOTH TO BRIDGE AS IT WAS AND, THROUGH EDGAR’S WRITNG, TO BRIDGE AS IT SHOULD BE. ITS OFTEN DISILLUSIONING TO MEET ONE’S IDOLS, BUT IN THIS CASE EDGAR IN PERSON WAS PERHAPS EVEN BETTER THAN AT A DISTANCE. IN ADDITION TO HIS FINE INTELLECT AND ETHICS, HE WAS ALSO A LOT OF FUN TO BE WITH.
EDGAR IS PROBABLY UP WTH CULBERTSON IN HIS INFLUENCE ON WHERE BRIDGE IS TODAY. I‘M SURE WE WILL NOT SEE HIS EQUAL AGAIN AND HOPE THAT THE REST OF US CAN HELP CARRY OUT HIS LEGACY BY SEEING THAT BRIDGE CONTINUES AS THE VIBRANT AND FAIR GAME OF EDGAR’S VISION. /S/ CHIP MARTEL
EDGAR WAS UNIQUE. HE SEEMED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE MOST ANY SUBJECT AND GIVE A FRANK, LEARNED, OBJECTIVE VIEW OF IT.
WHAT WERE HIS FINEST QUALIITIES? WAS HE SUPERIOR AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, PLAYER, PARTNER, TEAMMATE, TOUGH OPPONENT, STRATEGIST, CAPTAIN, WRITER, CREATOR, RULES EXPERT, EDITOR, APPEALS GURU OR TEACHER? HE WAS, OF COURSE, ALL OF THOSE, BUT HIS VALUE AS A HUMAN BEING, FRIEND, CONFIDANT AND FATHER FIGURE TRANSCENDED ALL.
I WILL MISS HIM AS I WOULD MISS THE DAILY SUNSHINE. /S/ BOBBY WOLFF
The interesting sideline of merely retyping these wonderfully touching thoughts is that they become so spellbinding, I find myself reading and re-reading them and no doubt it enormously impedes my speed. So, to avoid having to break my dinner date with the last quoter, I will bid you adieu and pick up the pace in a few days – with many more dear friends and admirers of Edgar’s to be heard from.
Later!
March 11th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 7 Comments
If you were asked to list the actions that get your goat at the table, could you name them (in order) of seriousness of importance? I suppose I was weaned on the rights and wrongs by Edgar and Norman for forty years and recently Bobby has set marvelous examples (maybe too much so).
1st (and foremost): Cheating (pre-arranged signals, subtle innuendos, taking advantage of huddles, failures to disclose understandings, non-alerts, etc., etc., etc.).
2nd: Gloating, high fives, talking to partner as if their opponents were not at the table.
3rd: Giving opponents unsolicited lessons.
And today, I learned of a new one. The Opponents reached a precarious 4S contract in the face of diamond interference by the opponents. Eventually, a sacrifice was taken (NV against the Vulnerable 4S game), and by the grace of God managed to hold it to –500 (for a reasonable board for them). Some made the game and others went down so –500 turned out to be a shade over average. However, if ever a gratuitous remark was made (akin to diarrhea of the mouth), the sacrificer turned to the spade bidder and asked, “Can you make 4 or 5?”
I consider that to be about the most classless remark I have heard in ages. I suppose his ego was so in need of bolstering to point out to his partner his brilliance, he couldn’t resist bringing it to everyone’s attention. Too bad people can’t score the result, put their cards back in the slot and go on to the next board. I suppose I am spoiled watching the big boys – as never would any of them every be so haughty or mindless to ask such a harassing and annoying question.
March 10th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 8 Comments
When Edgar Kaplan not unexpectedly passed away in 1997, Gail Greenberg was gracious enough to offer her beautiful “Honors” Bridge Club as the site of a memorial. Friends came from far and wide to honor their dear friend. The service was arranged by Joan Gerard, Gail, Edgar’s sister-in-law Sylvia Kaplan, and yours truly. I requested, assembled and printed the comments and tributes from dozens of friends and admirers. Since there are too many to include, I took the liberty of selecting those who are now in that big bridge game in the sky looking down along with Edgar: They were printed in the order they arrived at my home. One day when I have time, I will print the “living contributors” as well which, thank heavens, encompasses many more celebrities:
DEAR EDGAR: FOR 40 YEARS I HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT NORMAN KAY IS THE NICEST GUY IN THE WORLD. WITH ALL THE ACCOLADES YOU HAVE RECEIVED SINCE YOUR DEATH, I THINK MAYBE NORMAN WAS MERELY THE SECOND NICEST GUY IN THE WORLD. /S/ BILL ROOT
I WAS ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED THAT EDGAR NEVER WON A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. EDGAR WAS A GREAT PLAYER WHOM I NEVER UNDERRATED WHENEVER I PLAYED AGAINST HIM, I KNEW I WAS ALWAYS IN FOR A BATTLE UNTIL THE LAST CARD WAS PLAYED AND THE SCORECARD MARKED.
HIS FIGHTING SPIRIT ALMOST CARRIED THE BATTLE. THE BRIDGE WORLD HAS LOST ONE OF ITS GREAT PEOPLE. PERSONALLY, I AM GOING TO MISS HIM. /S/ PAUL SOLOWAY
FOR OVER 50 YEARS WE WERE NOT ONLY FRIENDS BUT STRONGLY BOUND TO EACH OTHER BY OUR MUTUAL LOVE OF BRIDGE, COMPETED OFTEN AGAINST EACH OTHER AND UNFORTUNATELY LOST AND PLAYED IN A FEW WORLD CHAMPIOMSHIPS. WHEN WE MEET AGAIN IN THE ‘HIGHWAY IN THE SKY’ THAT WILL BE OUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. A FOND FAREWELL. /S/ ALVIN ROTH
PLAING ON A TEAM WITH NORMAN AND EDGAR WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE . I THINK EDGAR HAS GIVEN MORE TO BRIDGE THAN ANYONE IN THE BRIDGE WORLD. IF THERE WAS SUCH A TITLE IN BRIDGE AS AN ‘ALL AMERICAN,’ EDGAR WOULD FIT THE BILL. /S/ BOB JORDAN
ALL THE ACCOLADES, PANACHE AND WORDS OF PRAISE COULD NEVER DO EDGAR JUSTICE!! THE WORLD HAS LOST A REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL AND I HAVE LOST A BLESSED TREASURE, FOR HE WAS …… MY FRIEND. /S/ RUTH McCONNELL
THE BRIDGE WORLD WILL ALWAYS BE IN AWE OF EDGAR KAPLAN’S ABILITIES AS A PLAYER, WRITER, MODERATOR, PUBLISHER AND ADMINISTRATOR. IT’S A PHASE OF THIS LAST NAMED SKILL THAT IMPRESSED ME THE MOST THROUGH THE YEARS.
IF YOU EVER NEEDED A CLARIFICATION OF A COMPLEX LAW OR A RULING, OR AN ETHICAL SITUATION, EDGAR WAS THE PERSON TO SEEK OUT HIS ANALYSES AND INTERPRETATIONS WERE THE VERY BEST AVAILABLE. THAT TALENT, I’M SAD TO SAY, IS UNREPLACEABLE. /S/ MIKE SHUMAN
EDGAR HAD A POWERFUL AURA ABOUT HIM, A SUBTLE, QUIET DIGNITY THAT HAD GREAT IMPACT. HE POSSESSED DEEP INSIGHT AND A UNIQUE ABIITY TO SHARE IT, BOTH VERBALLY AND IN WRITING. HE WAS THAT RARE INDIVIDUAL WHO TOUCHES OTHER LIVES AND ENRICHES THEM FOREVER. THANK YOU, EDGAR. /S/PETER NAGY
WITH THE SPACE OF ABOUT A WEEK, I LOST TWO OF MY CHILDHOOD IDOLS – RICHIE ASHBURN AND EDGAR KAPLAN. FROM MY READING OF THE K-S BOOK AT THE START OF MY PLAYING IN THE 50S THROUGH EVERY FACET OF BRIDGE AND HUMANITY EDGAR WAS THE BEACON OF LIGHT THAT GUIDED ALL THE REST OF US. HE WILL BE MISSED. /S/ BOBBY GOLDMAN
MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AS A PARTNER WITH EDGAR KAPLAN WAS AN ATLANTIC CITY OPEN PAIRS IN 1953. MY LAST WAS ON A TEAM PLAYING THE FRENCH (WHO SUBSEQUENTLY WON THE OLYMPICS) IN 1996. WE WON THE EVENT ON BOTH OCCASIONS BUT THE TRUE WINNING RESULT WAS WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT BIDDDING, PLAY, CONDUCT AND ETHICS FROM EDGAR. I REGRET NOT HAVING PLAYED MORE OFTEN WITH HIM, BUT I SHALL TREASURE WHAT I LEARNED ON THE OCCASIONS WHEN I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ENJOY HIM AS A PARTNER OR A TEAMMATE; MOST OF ALL, I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER EDGAR KAPLAN AS MY FRIEND. /S/ DICK FREEMAN
I WAS APPOINTED CO-CHAIRMAN OF NABC APPEALS IN 1998 AND SOUGHT ADVICE FROM EDGAR MANY TIMES WHEN DEALING WITH WEIGHTY ISSUES. HE WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP ME GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE INTENT OF THE LAWS.
TRYING TO ACHIEVE EQUITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIMARY MOTIVE OF MOST OF US INVOLVED IN THE APPEALS PROCESSS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO BE FACED WITH A PROBLEM AND THE “INAPPROPRIATE” LAW DOES NOT ACHIEVE THIS ELUSIVE EQUITY. I WILL NEVER FORGET EDGAR TELLING ME ‘IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT A LAW SAYS, FIND ANOTHER LAW. AND HE COULD ALWAYS SHOW ME A WAY TO APPLY A LESS OBVIOUS LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW US TOO APPROACH THAT EQUITY WHICH WE SO DESPERATELY SOUGHT /S/ ALAN LeBENDIG
FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS, A GOOD FRIEND, WITH FOND MEMORIES. /S/ CLIFF RUSSELL
EDGAR KAPLAN WAS A MAN OF MANY TALENTS. THESE WILL, NO DOUBT, BE NOTED BY MANY OTHERS. EDGAR WAS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORRLD OF BRIDGE FOR SEVERAL DECADES NONE IN OUR HISTORY WAS BETTER KNOWN AND RESPECTED THAN EDGAR.
WE KNEW EDGAR AS A FRIEND. WHAT FUN IT WAS TO SPAR WITH HIM ON A BRIDGE MATTER (USUALLY ADMINISTRATIVE OR ON A POINT OF LAW) .. “SHOULD THE COMMA GO HERE OR THERE?” WHEN DISAGREEMENT AROSE EDGAR WOULD SAY “DICK, YOU HAVE MADE A VERY GOOD POINT, BUT ….’ A GOOD POINT, BUT – WHEN EDGAR WOULD PROCEED TO TRY TO CONVINCE ME THAT I WAS WRONG. AND, MOST OF THE TIME, CONVINCE ME HE DID. /S/ (FREDDIE AND) DICK GOLDBERG
EDGAR KAPLAN WAS ONE OF THE TRULY RENAISSANCE MEN OF THE BRIDGE WORLD –COMPLETE WITH PIPE AND TWEEDS. WE ALL KNOW OF HIS SCHOLARLY APPROACH TO THE GAME IN ALL ITS FACETS. BUT I REMEMBER MOST THE GRACIOUS MANNER BOTH IN CONVERSATION AND IN DEPORTMENT AT THE TABLE. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. /S/ JOHN W. FISHER
EDGAR ALWAYS SOUGHT THE SOLUTION FOR ANY PROBLEM WITH REASON, OBJECTIVITY, CALMNESS AND MOST IMPORTANT, WITH FAIRNESS. WE WILL ALL MISS HIM. /S/ GEORGE RAPEE
IT WAS AN EDUCATION TO WORK WITH EDGAR, IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE HIS COLLEAGUE AND IT WAS A DELIGHT TO BE HIS FRIEND. /S/ RALPH COHEN
EDGAR KAPLAN WAS NOT A CLOSE FRIEND. NEVERTHELESS, THROUGH OUR PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS AND THROUGH HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BRIDGE WORLD, HE HAD A PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON MY LIFE. I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL.
THE FIRST CONVERSATION I HAD WITH EDGAR GAVE RISE TO AN AMUSING INCIDENT. I WAS ATTENDING MY FIRST NATIONALS – PITTSBURGH IN THE FALL OF 1966. I FOUND MYSELF IN AN ELEVATOR WITH EDGAR, BETTY, BENITO GAROZZO (WHO AT THE TIME, WAS CONSIDERED BY MANY PEOPLE TO BE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD) AND A FOURTH WHOM I DID RECOGNIZE. THE STRANGER WAS OBVIOUSLY AN EXPERT – HE AND GAROZZO WERE HAVING AN ANIMATED DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME COUP AND HIS FRIEND WALKED AHEAD.
EDGAR AND BETTY SEEMED VERY APPROACHABLE SO I SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THEM WHO THE MAN TALKING TO GAROZZO WAS. THEY LAUGHED AND LAUGHED. IT SEEMS THAT THE FOUR OF THEM HAD JUST BEEN OUT TO DINNER. EVERYONE IN THE RESTAURANT WANTED TO KNOW WHO WERE THOSE PEOPLE DINING WITH OMAR SHARIF. /S/ EDDIE MANFIELD
(Note: I had heard this story countless times, but never knew where it originated until Eddie’s quip was made public above ).
WHILE I WAS ATTENDING THE 1950 NATIONALS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, EDGAR KAPLAN WAS POINTED OUT TO ME AS A RISING STAR. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING AND CHATTING BRIEFLY WITH HIM IN THE HOSPITALITY SUITE, LITTLE KNOWING THE HEIGHT HE WOULD REACH NOT TOO MANY YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
CO-CHAIRING AND BEING INVOLVED WITH APPEAL COMMITTEES FOR MANY YEARS, I FREQUENTLY SOUGHT OUT EDGAR FOR ADVICE, AND INVARIABILY WAS STEERED IN THE PROPER DIRECTION .
CONTRACT BRIDGE CAN BE DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS: THE CULBERSTON ERA; THE GOREN ERA; AND THE KAPLAN ERA. IT IS SAD TO COME TO THE END OF THE LATTER, BUT HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GAME AS PLAYER AND LAWS EXPERT WILL BE ETERNAL. GOODBYE, EDGAR WE MISS YOU DEEPLY. /S/ DAVE TREADWELL
March 8th, 2011 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 2 Comments
My lack of cyberspace know-how did not allow me to print Lola’s photo on the original Sedona blog, so I resorted to giving her a blog of her own since I had so many emails from dog lovers asking to see her picture. Well, here she is – in the flesh – Linda and Robb’s pride and joy.
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