August 28th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 1 Comment 
Last evening I received an email from a former Philadelphia buddy, who (like moi) migrated to Texas (and is still there). His exact words that accompanied the caricature (if you recognized him) were:
We stumbled upon this portrait of great American while at American Art Museum in DC. They think he’s playing poker (according to caption). We think that’s amusing. You could post this to blog and credit the museum.
In lieu of his suggested kudos to the Museum, I am posting it and crediting Mark Lombard for passing on the image of one of bridge’s most celebrated and generous bridge allies .. Warren Buffett.
August 21st, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 5 Comments
All bridge players can probably look back (usually with grinning faces) to what (when first introduced to the game) they thought was ‘BRIDGE.” I am not poking fun at our initiation (heavens, no!) but rather demonstrating how both the game and our reflections upon it have changed over the years.
We all had varying opening exposures – through our grandparents, parents, school buddies, college friends – a myriad of people who were fascinated by the concept of the game and resultantly caused us to turn our heads.
Today, the catch phrase is CONVENTIONS. They are only as good as the players employing them, using them when appropriate and not forgetting either the nuances or recognizing them when they arise. I can speak from personal experience, tracing my heritage over many decades. Most of us started out as starry-eyed beginners completely captivated by this new attraction. As most, I progressed from home games to duplicates and then through the cycle. By 1965 I was a dyed-in-the wool disciple of Kaplan-Sheinwold because of Norman’s alliance with Edgar Kaplan, its co-designer.
As most bridge players, I loved what is sarcastically referred to by Bobby as “comfort zones.” They are methods which cause people to be secure in their auctions, knowing exactly what each bid means It did not necessarily guarantee to be the most advantageous method of handling certain situations, but it gave solace to its users that they were secure in their understanding. One of my favorites was the popular Forcing No Trump without which I felt I could not survive (and I did put up some mild resistance at the beginning – but soon faltered because of the success we enjoyed adapting the NF treatment).
As the old adage goes, all good things must come to an end – and so did my beloved Forcing No Trump. I never thought the day would arrive when I would not have my security blanket (by an unpassed hand) of being able to respond with 1NT (5 to a bad 12) and then make an invitational jump to the three level with three card support. However, over the last six years sitting across the table from Bobby, I have witnessed (with unyielding conviction) how important it is to not go beyond 1NT which so often is the best contract in a matchpoint venue. Of course, as a passed hand, we use three and four card Drury, but how, pray tell, do you show a limit raise by a NPH with only three trumps if you fear that 1NT might be your first and last call? Easy! You muster up all the moxy with which your years of experience have blessed you and unperturbed, boldly jump to three of the major. Partner assumes it is four but would not have a seizure if only three appeared as dummy was tabled.
The reason we employ 1NT as a non-forcing tactic is that it allows partner who opened with a balanced modicum of points (11+ to a bad 14) to be able to pass with some humdrum 5-3-3-2 or 3-5-2-3 distribution. No guarantees – but it has served us well.
To select a topic such as this departs from my normal blogging repertoire, but I was reading a commentary on other treatments of support (such as Bergen Raises, etc.) and the spirit moved me to share this with you. It is frightfully out of character for me, I confess, as I am still very much a humble student of the game and preaching about system modifications is hardly my long suit or area of expertise!! Forgive my fall from grace.
August 18th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 9 Comments
Undoubtedly when the words Bridge Circus are mentioned, everyone thinks back to the fascinating world of the Omar Sharif Bridge Circus in the late sixties and early seventies which journeyed to several major cities featuring exhibition matches attracting thousands of enthusiastic bridge players.
I, particularly, reflect upon it with fondness as I coordinated it in Philadelphia and my late husband Norman Kay played on the ‘local’ team in the three cornered matches between the Locals, those Dallas Aces (with a fella named Wolff) and the Circus (consisting of the some of the exalted Italian Blue Team, Claude Delmouly and, of course, Omar himself).
However, Las Vegas bridge, an altogether different format, has had a rather unsettling home base since 1994. A duplicate club known as Bridge World was started by Steve Levy and together with the late Loretta Brown, ran it for about a year and a half. Years before that Steve ran a bridge game at The Draw Bridge, owned by Howard and Sandy Tuft. Steve eventually retired and Loretta was left holding the cards. She moved to a large facility south of Jones and Sahara, nearby the Chevron Station. A couple of months later, they were uprooted to Bugsy’s Saloon on the same corner and before very long used a tax firm (H & R Block) facility during their off-months and renamed the club Bridge World II because of all the moves. From there they moved to a restaurant off of Sahara and Valley View. Then, confessed by one of the present owners whose name shall remain anonymous, they found themselves in a horrendous roach infested bar called Larry’s Hide-a-way. That was not what bugged them, however, It was a falling ceiling tile that had been reported by the player (whose table it fell upon) to the Health Department that forced them to find another location. Their next stint was at The Palomino Bar, just North of Cheyenne on Rancho, for a couple of months. Because of the love of the game, this band of traveling bridge gypsies hung in.
FINALLY, in late 1997, Loretta learned that a non-profit licensed group could rent a space in a lovely Las Vegas facility called the Charleston Heights Art Center, a magnificent building, where Bobby and I finally caught up with this industrious group of vagabonds. It was bright, spacious, clean, with lots of bathrooms, a kitchen and tons of parking — besides being centrally located. They moved there on January 2, 1998 and stayed until this past week, bidding it a fond farewell on Saturday, August 7. Although the location was as letter perfect as a bridge club could be, the City had other obligations and from time to time we got ousted (and transferred to other City owned facilities) but people like sleeping in their own beds and playing hot scotch was a terrible inconvenience. The club ran daily games Tuesday through Saturday — but had to close shop on Sunday and Monday — to the disappointment of many retired residents who adore playing whenever they get the chance.
Loretta, who had been playing less and less (only Fridays for the last four years of her life as she was no youngster) passed away in August of 2008. Loretta’s chief liaison was a popular, outgoing lass by the name of Dixie Perkinson (a director and certified teacher). Dixie fell heir to the club and its supplies, but still had the responsibility of paying the rent. Another staunch bridge devotee and lovely woman, Joanne Euler offered to ‘buy in’ and become a partner, an offer which Dixie graciously accepted. In January of this year, another terrific, soft-spoken gal, Jane Rubin, joined as owner and director — making for a lovely threesome.
The new club (3200 square feet) is set up for about twenty-five tables but in a pinch for special games could hold as many as forty. Food, coffee, tea, etc., is served prior to and during the game. It is a warm and friendly atmosphere in which Dixie (our own Perle Mesta) never fails to mention any visiting guests and asks our group to welcome them with open arms. Of course, we use Bridgemate (without being able to review earlier results as in the beginning – or any scores for that matter); the scores go directly to the computer and are posted (with one round to go) and then the Finals immediately after the game. Naturally hand records are provided for the earlier prepared hands and if you have to run out early, you can get the game recap that evening on your computer. As good as it gets!
One aspect of the duplicate which has made Bobby and me very proud is that no favoritism is shown, rulings are made fairly and equitably, huddles, hitches and their country cousins have been outlawed for the most part, and it is a delightful experience. They are now open seven days a week (12:30) and Wednesday evening (6:30).
The game is called the THE LAS VEGAS BRIDGE WORLD, located in an office building just west of the corner of Flamingo and Lindell – a short cab ride from The Strip. So … if you are visiting Sin City and feel the need to take a break from blackjack, poker. roulette or the slots — c’mon over. We’d love to see you. There are always strays looking for partners and a good chance if you come alone, you can be paired up.
Our Grand Opening is this Friday, August 20th at 11:30 (Speaker/Lunch/Bridge) and we predict Blue Skies, Green Lights and a PERMANENT HOME AT LONG LAST.
August 17th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 7 Comments
I was inspired by the blog of Howard Bigot Johnson, dated August 15th, entitled Law Report, about psychological abuse at the table. It was amusing to read but really struck a chord with me — recalling the hundreds of partnerships I witnessed in action both in national and international competition over five decades. Not everything is sweetness and light as one would have you believe just because of a preponderance of scalps on the walls and zillions of masterpoints.
One of the most famous American partnerships of all time were always at each other’s throats, trying to assess blame upon the other. It appeared to be almost as important as victory. Egos are a major part of the game and even the strongest and the best wrestle inwardly with this problem. I speak only of the male species as I was not privy that much to females at the top level (or at least what I considered the top level).
Probably the prime example of ugliness, I witnessed with my own eyes and ears: After a match in a social setting, in the presence of the Sponsor and the Captain (the latter of whom would never sink to such depths), one of the players turned to his teammate and opened fire in a calm, seemingly sweet voice, probing, “You DIDN’T get to the slam?” Obviously, it made, but it was impossible to bid (at least by intelligent expert standards who could not see through each other’s cards to know it meshed perfectly with few high card points). The pair on the wrong side of the swing, were too gentlemanly to dignify such an ugly remark — but to this day, I find it hard to look at this famous pompous ass who tried to make his teammates look bad in front of the sponsor (who may have been too naive to even understand the undercurrent of the conversation).
I see this form of one-upmanship all the time with the sarcasm, arrogance and misguided blame assessment with the lower lights, but believe me, it happens at the higher levels as well — especially with the predominance of professionalism in bridge turning our game into a doggy-dog world. As I have professed many times before, Money is in first and Bridge a far second. I have seen the tasteless transition, the unscrupulous attempts at stealing sponsors, the ploys used to encourage the sponsors to shell out additional money for more events needed to qualify for world championships — and the beat goes on.
Elite international bridge competition will never rival the days of old when our country was represented by true experts who did not buy their way onto teams, but earned the right by innate talent, natural ability and brilliance. I fear those days may be gone forever as I hear the death toll in the distance.
August 14th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 7 Comments
Before continuing with this historical accounting of the original Dallas Aces, I must fess up to my inspiration. It emanated from my two “Lees” — originally Ray Lee, in his blog on “Bridge Jeopardy” on August 10th and then a follow up email from my computer Guardian Angel, Luise Lee, who always bails out my blogs and comments when in trouble.
Ray’s Question No. 10 about the Aces found me on Bobby’s den sofa for over an hour listening again to the saga of Bobby’s many mind-boggling experiences stemming from his association with Ira and the original formation of the Aces — far from what the public knew or the history books reveal.
Thus, I decided to fill you in a few interesting tidbits which have been left out of the bridge annals. At the end of 1968 (after Ira was placed on the Disabled List — so to speak), Bobby played with Jim Jacoby while Bobby Goldman, Billy Eisenberg and Mike Lawrence wheeled in a threesome for some practice sessions. However, it did not take long before the Aces became whole again as Hamman reconsidered in early 1969, joining the team playing with Lawrence (along with Jacoby/Wolff and Goldman/Eisenberg).
Hamman had a previous commitment that year (and a great one at that with Eddie Kantar) where they qualified to represent the country so he did not play full time as an Ace until after that. The Aces first success came in 1970 in Stockholm with the above three twosomes and won again in 1971 in Taiwan. However, Hamman was now playing with Eisenberg and Lawrence with Goldman. It is of further interest to note that all three celebrated pairs were employing different approaches: Jacoby and Wolff (Orange Club); Hamman and Eisenberg (Black Club); and Lawrence and Goldman (Aces Scientific). In fact, I recall Goldman going public with a book of the same name.
All was not peaches and cream in ’71 despite their victory. Hamman and Eisenberg were having a tough go of it and did not play most of the last few sessions. Sometime after their return to the States, Billy left Dallas and headed for California where he either met or resumed his friendship with Hugh Heffner of Playboy Bunny Fame and Billy was no stranger to the scene. As I recall, Billy also won a major backgammon tournament — a man of many talents. Billy was one of the most charming, entertaining and likeable persons I ever met and he would be a popular celebrity anywhere he chose to settle.
As an aside, I must mention that I knew Billy, as they say, way back when. In Philadelphia, my late husband Norman and I were friendly with a promising ‘unknown’ by the name of Bobby Goldman and our good friend Gabby Coren had played against Billy Eisenberg in New York and made what we in call in Yiddish a “schitach” (matching up two likely mates). Eisenberg was already an Ace and it was his influence that convinced the group to select his former partner Goldman to join them — over another talented contender. No one can deny that it is a small world. I didn’t even know Bobby Wolff — but I had the inside scoop on how Goldman and Eisenberg latched onto each other.
After Billy’s departure, Soloway joined the team — playing with Hamman (a partnership that reunited on the Nickell team after Bobby got ‘dumped’ — partly by obvious political pressures from other teammates with whom he was not in good favor). Also, in all fairness to Bob, he was just itching to try lots of those new fangled conventions. That was (and is still not) my Bobby’s cup of tea — so Hamman turned to a player who was amenable to Bob’s bent.
1972 was the year the Aces, as we knew them, took off in different directions. However, Hamman and Wolff gravitated to each other and the media seemed to refer to all future teams on which they played as The Aces. They did remain a revered partnership, believe it or not, for twenty-six years.
The well was running dry for Ira and the salaries were ebbing. My husband was drafted by Ira to work for Michigan General; Bob Hamman went off into the insurance business which he had been building up in California when invited, but declined, to become an Ace in ’68. Hamman’s eventual success was not impeded by the sheer, cold facts that Ira was a substantial client; Bobby Goldman, a very bright young man with computer and mathematical skills (and with recommendations and plaudits from Ira) went into some other successful venture; Mike Lawrence went back to Berkeley; and Jimmy Jacoby returned to the tournament trail which he happily gave up when Bobby asked him to join The Aces.
Today, of the six original Dallas Aces, Jacoby and Goldman are gone. Jim died in 1991 at the age of 58 and Bobby (endearingly called “Goldie”) passed on in 1998 at 60. Eisenberg, Hamman, Lawrence and Wolff are still busy plying their respective trades in some fashion.
The Aces on Bridge Column, started by Ira, was bought out by Bobby from Ira’s Estate when he died in 1982 and with Joe Musumeci’s help collaborated on it for a couple decades. Ira would be pleased to know it is still appearing in well over a hundred newspapers all over the world (and also can be found on our bridgeblogging site courtesy of United Media/United Features and Ray Lee).
That, my friends, was what true unadulterated professionalism was all about way back them. Once Ira took a back seat to his six expert representatives (though not willingly, for damn sure), The Dallas Aces emerged as the first all-professional bridge team in the world and owe Ira Corn a debt of gratitude for allowing them to make bridge history. Ira passed on fourteen years after he put the Aces on the map and was deservingly inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame a year or so after it was resurrected in 1995 after a thirty year hiatus. Ira’s dream came true albeit not exactly as he envisioned its unique Place in the Sun.
To my knowledge, the only other uncontaminated professional team is the one Madame LaVazza, the lovely Italian coffee magnate, created — where she metes out the salaries to her beloved sixsome and beams as she proudly roots and cheers from the bleachers. No strings attached!
August 14th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 6 Comments
Forty-two years ago a unique idea was conceived to organize and sponsor the first All-Professional Bridge Team in the world. Although that was how it was planned initially, an unexpected snafu changed the scenario in a dramatic fashion. If you read The Lone Wolff, you may recall the first chapter was curiously entitled “Firing Ira!” So, let us backtrack for a moment to understand the circumstances that altered the original blueprints.
The year was 1968. The Dallas Aces was the brainstorm of a wealthy businessman by the name of Ira G. Corn, CEO of Michigan General (a twenty-two company conglomerate). While watching the world championship in New York in 1964, Ira had a vision. Because of his business successes, he had tremendous self-confidence and set out to arrange the first all-professional bridge team of its kind. However, he stood at ground zero and recognized that he needed help. That’s where my husband came into the picture.
He approached Bobby, who was living in San Antonio at the time, with the idea of enlisting his smarts as Bobby would be in a position to recruit the nucleus of the team and with Ira’s money and the help of his bright and talented significant other, Dorothy Moore, as the coordinator, the three of them could set the wheels in motion. A sophisticated bridge coach was hired to round out the trio, but was soon replaced by retired Strategic Air Command Lt. Colonel, Joe Musumeci, who was accustomed to running a tight ship, keeping everyone in tow. He never got involved or intruded in any technical bridge issues or decisions. Joe was ideal for the position as he knew his place, performed his role with great aplomb and was considered a key factor in the Aces eventual chain of successes.
Bobby enlisted his friend and frequent partner, Ozzie’s son, Jim Jacoby (who already resided in Dallas). Jim happily accepted. His other candidates (Chuck Burger, Bob Hamman, Eddie Kantar and Sami Kehela) had their doubts and respectfully declined. Bobby was still in search of four other players until he was knocked for a loop when Ira informed him HE planned to play – reducing the magic number to three. Eventually Bobby recruited Billy Eisenberg, Bobby Goldman and Mike Lawrence, rounding out the sextet. The original partnerships were Billy and Bobby, Jim and Mike and Bobby and Ira. They did o.k. locally but lost in the third round of their first National Team game, the Vanderbilt in New York in March of 1968. Their next NABC was the Spingold in Minneapolis that summer and though they squeaked by the first two rounds were trailing again. Without Ira in the lineup, they would have been up 40. Obviously, everyone was disappointed. The prospects were dim and the mood was glum. Though they had never discussed “The Ira Situation,” Bobby could see the handwriting on the wall. He asked Ira to join him for a walk, departing the playing space where he decided to take matters into his own hands.
The dialogue on page 5 of TLW went something like ……
“Ira,” I said, “we’ve been practicing and working and we’re at a point now …” (Bobby fumbled for words and was about to lose his nerve). “Suddenly, I just blurted: There’s no way in the world the Aces can be anywhere close to what you want them to be if you continue to play. ” Ira puffed on his cigar and stared at Bobby coldly.
Bobby continued, “Ira, I know you love the game, but you are so far away from where you should be as a player. It’s like we’re a Class D Bush League Team trying to win The World Series. Actually, it’s even worse than that. We can’t hide you in right field. You’re right there.”
Bobby couldn’t believe what he was saying and concluded by adding … “If you feel that you have to play, maybe we should disband the team. Everyone knows your intentions were stellar. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with ….” He just couldn’t go on pleading his case. Bobby feared being thrown off the team and had visions of being jobless as he headed back to San Antonio, when suddenly he was hauled back to reality by Ira’s voice … “Well,” said Ira gruffly, “you better win.”
They lost the next day … sans Ira!
To be continued …..
August 11th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 10 Comments
There have been so many varying opinions about qualifications (or lack of them) while commentating on BBO. Of course, everyone has his or her own vantage point as to what they are seeking while glued to their computers. The various talents of the performers have to do with experience, level of competition, ability to analyze, verbalization skills, quickness of mind, believability, sense of humor, good interaction with fellow commentators — and so many other pertinent factors. Some look upon kibitzing as sheer entertainment, casual relaxation and nothing more — while others, who have more pressing agendas, gage it differently and are more interested in the pearls of wisdom of an expert analyst as a learning experience rather than just amusing repartee. That’s why they serve chocolate and vanilla. Enjoyment is the name of the game.
While considering the above, visions of two individuals in the bridge world danced through my head. Though both were addicted to the game, their life’s accomplishments were like night and day — as were their successes at the table.
The first individual must have had an exceedingly high I.Q. as he worked diligently on The Manhattan Project. For those too young to remember (or were not on earth at the time), it was the code name for an operation conducted during World War II to develop the first atomic bombs. Obviously to have qualified for acceptance in this earthshaking (no pun intended) program, he must have been near genius with extraordinary scientific skills — though bridge was no walk in the park despite his sponsoring a host of top players as his partner.
The second person who came to mind was a total bridge nerd. And yes — we certainly can lay claim to more than our fair share. By dictionary definition, a nerd is an unstylish or socially inept person who is slavishly dedicated to intellectual pursuits (in this case, of course, our dear game). I was fortunate enough to have been invited to play with him half a dozen times and though his name is not a household word because he cannot afford to travel regularly to the big events, this fellow has the most astounding natural instincts and ability, tremendous table feel, gut feelings on probabilities and usually emerges near the top even when playing with a client. He piles up tons of points annually and yet I doubt if he could open a can of soup with an electric opener.
So what does this all mean? I really believe these two opposite ends of the totem pole prove that intelligence is not necessarily the key factor in success at the table. It may help when push comes to shove — but card sense is in and unto itself!
As to the identity of my two mystery friends — I’ll never tell!
August 9th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 7 Comments
For those of you not privileged to have a subscription to the IBPA, on Page 15 of the IBPA Bulletin, August 10, 2010 Issue, under News and Views, the following appeared.
Pendergaffe
“Calls for an ACBL investigation into its Educational Foundation’s dealings are being made to determine what has happened to the bequest of Peter Pender, who died in 1990, and why his wishes are not being honoured.”
“Pender left the ACBL $50,000 (which ended up in the Educational Foundation coffers) to endow its VuGraph with the name Pendergraph to perpetuate his name. Pender also donated $27,500 to the ACBL to provide The Peter Pender Trophy (and individual replicas) to the winners of the biennial Junior Team Trials, a practice apparently discontinued in 1995. ACBL CEO Jay Baum has vowed to rectify this oversight.”
Perhaps this will begin to evoke the answers we are anxiously awaiting.
Besides my current blog (one of several) entitled “Pendergraph Pending”, there is also much about the above on my husband Bobby’s site entitled “What’s to Become of America’s Talented Youth?” Someone interjected the subject of the Pendergaffe and from that thread there emerged many remarks on the Pender issue (rather than the original theme of America’s Juniors). JKW
July 31st, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 8 Comments
To those of you who have either commented or written to me privately because of your outrage and curiosity to learn what, if anything, was done by the Board of Directors (BOD), at their meetings at the current NABC in New Orleans: The answer is NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
They apparently, from the deafening silence, decided to pass the buck and leave it in the capable hands of their Educational Foundation (EF) who probably should not have had discretionary power as to the disbursement of Peter’s designated monies in the first place.
From what we gather from the silence of the twenty-five members of the BOD who met for several days, the embarrassing subject was not deemed worthy of being placed on the agenda and appears to me as a disclaimer. Apparently, it has been handled all these years (starting in 1990 when Peter died) by the ACBL EF.
(1) Is not the Educational Foundation a branch of the ACBL? YES!
(2) Does not the ACBL oversee the disbursement of monies bequeathed? NO!
Otherwise, somebody would have been minding the store or vault in which Peter Pender’s $50,000 bequest was being kept and followed up on the $27,500 grant for the Peter Pender Junior Trophy (PPJT) that had fallen by the wayside until Bobby and I discovered the lethargy of its disappearance.
Further, I did a little extra homework, checking out the website of the ACBL EF, which you can do too. Go to their site (I can’t identify it here because of the Spam Rule) which is entitled ACBL Educational Foundation and find the heading called “Major Foundation Donors,” differentiating the categories by amounts of contributions – ranging from Patron ($5,000 and over) down to Friend ($25 to $99). In the PATRON category (touchingly preceded by a red heart) it lists:
Sidney H. Lazard to the Sidney H. Lazard Sportsmanship Award Fund
Frances Leventritt in memory of Peter Leventritt
Geoffrey Cross
The Daily Bridge Calendar – Lee Daugherty, Ashlar House 2002
INCREDIBLE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT AS NOWHERE APPEARS THE NAME OF ‘PETER PENDER’ WHO SHELLED OUT A TOTAL OF $77,500 TO THE ACBL. Maybe that wasn’t enough?
I find it astounding, unexplainable and downright insulting! As you may recall from reading earlier references on what Bobby calls The Pendergaffe, we learned that the grant for the PPJT to purchase replicas to be engraved and presented to the winning Juniors of the Trials held every two years was totally forgotten and neglected after the first presentation (with a lot of hoopla and a picture in the ACBL Bulletin). I have arranged through Jay Baum, very competent and fair CEO, that the names of the winners will be researched, replicas purchased and engraved and formal presentations made, albeit substantially over a decade later. No one can deny this was a pure case of unadulterated negligence. And, since there is only a shade more than $27,500 sitting in Peter’s Junior Fund (in the absence of following through with the arrangement), where is all the accrued interest (remembering interest rates were quite high as compared to the pittance we now receive for our investments).
The second contribution of Peter’s was another grant – in the amount of $50,000. He died in November of 1990 and (encouraged by Bobby and Becky Rogers at a personal meeting at the Summer Nationals in Boston earlier that year) agreed to donate said money for the commemoration and perpetuation of his name via something comparable to, or more specifically, THE PENDERGRAPH. There was a Pendergraph for a bit but neither hide nor hair has been caught of it since the turn of the century (or long before) due to the appearance of our wonderful BBO. However, it is abundantly and unmistakably clear that his fifty grand bequest was specifically to USE THE NAME OF PENDER and when that ceased, it is also an unequivocal fact that the money supply should rightfully have been halted as well.
Presently there is a shade over $10,000 left but the PENDERGAPH is dead and buried like it’s donor.
Having read the above (elaborating on the $77,500 Peter left to the ACBL), WHY WAS NOT THE NAME OF PETER PENDER HEADING THE LIST OF MAJOR FOUNDATION DONORS.
Back to New Orleans. A conscientious member of the Board (who would not press for it to be listed on the BOD agenda) did attend the EF Meeting. Let me read you excerpts from the disappointing report we received:
“I went to the Educational Foundation meeting last Saturday morning and went over the financial page I had been sent and forwarded to you showing the $40,000 that was spent on the Pendergraph from the time the Peter Pender Fund was turned over to them and the $10,000+ that is left. And as you know there is $27,000 left of Junior money allocated for replicas of the Peter Pender Junior Team Trials Trophy.” [That’s old news. We already knew that. Actually, it is reported there is over $28,000 in the Juniors].”
“…… But at this point – I am not willing to do anything more … mostly because I don’t see any wrong doing here except that after the program was halted, we did nothing to spend the rest of the Fund in a way to honor Peter’s memory.” [The wrongdoing is that ANY money spent after the name PENDERGRAPH was dropped is, we believe, a legal decision, as Peter was specific as to the purpose of the bequest – the perpetuation of his name].
“I am going to pursue getting the names of the US Under 26 Trials Winners and have replicas made for them as well as, of course, try to make certain that continues.” [That, too, was confirmed over a month ago by Jay Baum who volunteered to take care of it as soon as they settled in at their new Headquarters.’]
“As far as the $10,000 left I would hope that you with the help of Jeffrey Polisner, Peter Rank and myself might figure out a worthwhile use of these funds to make sure that Peter’s legacy will remain. The Educational Foundation is certainly willing to work with you and release the money to any worthwhile endeavor you feel is appropriate. “ [Sorry, THAT JUST DOESN’T CUT IT. We want an accounting of all the misappropriated money that was spent setting up other programs, maintenance and repair services AFTER THE NAME OF THE PENDERGRAPH WAS DROPPED and have the original bequest replenished as Peter’s wishes were certainly not honored as he expected].
At the present time, we have sought legal counsel (on Peter’s behalf). It is unclear whether the $50,000 bequest was directly to the ACBL (or possibly because of tax consequences to its charitable arm, the EF). However, it matters not as the EF is under the auspices of the ACBL and the responsibility must be shared. We have requested that a competent, interested lawyer speak to Peter’s attorney and examine the probated Will to ascertain the details. Then, if our suspicions are substantiated, the following two choices remain: (1) Either retrieve and restore the misspent moneys to Peter’s Residuary Estate if indeed the monies were wrongly spent; or preferably, and in the alternative (2) If the ACBL/EF is amenable, restore the assumed misspent monies AND let us go back twenty years and right the ship by naming some major event or function after a very generous bridge icon. In good conscience, how can anyone deny Peter’s desires were violated and the commemoration of his name was only negatively revived by calling attention to The Pendergaffe.
July 24th, 2010 ~ Judy Kay-Wolff ~ 12 Comments
In the early to mid sixties, four eligible bachelors who often partnered or teamed up together, bit the dust. The first to go was Edgar Kaplan who married his former partner Alfie Sheinwold’s ex-wife, Betty. Then I lassoed Norman, Lenny Harmon married the widowed Marion Stein and Ivar Stakgold wed Alice Cox. Another good friend, Dickie Freeman (who lived farther south in the Washington, D.C. area) but was close with the group, married Louise Robinson. Against the odds, all five marriages happily survived until one of the spouses passed on. Quite a record for our bridge circus, you must admit!
By this time you must be wondering why the above caption! It was the, shall we say, brainchild of Edgar Kaplan, who was a great theoretician, a brilliant writer, and marvelous partner to my late husband Norman Kay. They played together for over forty years — first in the late fifties and early sixties with a brief hiatus when Norman was snatched up to play on the big team by Sidney Silodor (until Sidney’s death in 1963), and then he and Edgar resumed their partnership from 1965 until 1997 when Edgar finally lost his battle with cancer.
One of the highlights of my long bridge career was getting to know and become close with Edgar and Betty. If ever a marriage was made in heaven — this was it! They married in 1962 and savored each other’s company for twenty-three years until her death in 1985. Betty was a very talented individual — a music teacher in her younger days, gained fame as a gracious hostess at their home on West 94th — but more to her credit, she will forever be remembered as Edgar’s Boswell, carefully capturing on paper many of what are referred to as Edgarisms. A while back I believe I wrote a tribute to Edgar and his clever and funny words of wisdom. Hold on! Be patient! I am getting to RATS!
Betty had a few scalps on her own wall, having won four national championships. However, she (like most wives of world class players) suffered from the pressure of playing with her beloved and did not always put her best foot forward, especially after making a boo-boo and being reprimanded for it. So, Edgar laid down a new set of ground rules which he thought might improve their rapport. He was only allowed to refer to her errors in judgment (?) by using four words, which as you by now have gathered — began with the letters R, A, T and S. They were intended as a one-word synopsis of her particular performance. Are you ready???? Here they come ….
Reasonable! Attractive! Thoughtful! Scintillating!
Bobby has already retired for the night, but when he awakens in the morning, rest assured this copy of Edgar’s restricted list of comments at the bridge table will be sitting upon his desk!
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