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Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club Players Having fun at – and away from – the bridge table

2 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com  For the first time in 5 years, Rochester was allowed to hold a Regional tournament at the Empire Event Center (out by Apache Mall). 370 tables of players came from all over the Midwest to participate – with lots of gold points awarded and a few finesses that worked.  Joanne Long and Sheri French did a terrific job with partnerships during the weeklong affair.  Greg Caucutt (the Tournament Champion runner-up) with his partner Carole Mataya (she was the Tournament Champ, earning 54.76 gold points!)

3 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com  (L to R): Jerry Rosenblad, Al Larson, Ed Prosser, Rod Morlock  (L to R): Ed Prosser (he got a couple of coffee cups as a winner!), Larry Shell (Mackenzie IA), Sheri French, Lance Chamberlain  This happy fella is John Miller, who became a Life Master at the Rochester Med City Regional! John needed 0.62 gold points – for what seemed like an eternity – and playing with partner Jan Morris in the Open game scored 9.00 full gold points to go over the line and then some.

4 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com  A “Glitz Day” was scheduled on Thursday of the tournament, with Sue Greenberg taking a photo to document the well-dressed. L to R, that’s Carolyn Baker, Linda Fess, Marsha Woolums, Bob Friedhoff, and Susan Dodge.

5 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Coffee cups for the winners at the tournament – and this year’s convention card patch  The Blue Duck Truck made another appearance at this year’s summer celebration at St Luke’s. 52 players signed up for the annual picnic and party, with a good time had by all.

6 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Mary Ann Butler, helping to distribute the last of the french fries for the day 

7 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The RDBC’s Lance Chamberlain passed 7,500 masterpoints in July 2024 to become our latest Sapphire Life Master. He’s shown here wearing the ring signifying his accomplishment (and below, the chariot that brought him to his celebratory party at the Van Ryn estate, chauferred by his partner Marie Nelson). John Miller and Jerry Rosenblad – providing some 4th of July fireworks at the table this year!

8 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com  That’s Sue Greenberg addressing the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association game crowd in June; below left are some of the giveaways the Alzheimer’s Association provided the RDBC, and below right, some of the giveaways that Bonnie Fox and her “Bonnie’s Bakers” provided to the players for their participation. Something (or everything) sure worked out well, as the RDBC raised more than $6,700 for the Alzheimer’s Association this year – quite impressive for our little group of bridge players!

9 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Rochester ran a one-day 749er Non-Life Master Sectional in June of 2024, and over 30 intermediate/novice players scored some silver points! There were 17 tables over the course of two sessions, with Chris Carroll and partner John Rethlefsen from Winona coming in 1st overall in the morning session (they are in the photo on the left). The afternoon champs were homegrown Earlene and Harlan Wickre of Rochester. Halfway through her game, Ann Van Ryn’s partner’s overbidding has her yet to get a positive score on her side. (We all have a pretty good idea who the overbidding partner is, let’s just leave it at that.)

10 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Quite the Rochester crowd at the 2024 Gopher Regional up in Bloomington! More than two dozen Rochester bridge players made the trip to the Crowne Plaza Hotel to earn some gold points this year.

11 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The 2024 Rochester Spring Sectional brought in a packed house at St Luke’s; 110 tables of players over the three days and lots and lots of silver masterpoints were earned. Of course, the way to keep these players happy is through the kitchen at a tournament like this! A special shout-out to Bonnie Fox and “Bonnie’s Bakers” for the incredible spread for everyone in attendance.   This tournament had a bit of everything going for it, thanks to all of the local RDBC volunteers – and here’s something you don’t see every day at the bridge table – a couple of opponents, along with your partner, whose combined ages is still younger than you are. (At the tournament, that’s Cecilia Ehrlichman and Kyra Helmbold from Carlton as your opponents, and Sarah Wahl across the table from Minneapolis as your partner – combined ages at the time of the tournament: 68.)

12 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Spring Clean-up time! A special thanks to these RDBC members who showed up to do a deep-clean on all the bidding boxes, tables, chairs, and more, to keep everything sticky-proof (or perhaps sticky-resistant) for the rest of us. TOP ROW: Joanne Long and Jan Morris working the boxes, with Sue Greenberg and Connie Dalzell on table duty; MIDDLE ROW: Ann Van Ryn getting some help with Bob Roediger and the sanitary wipes, with Marg Lichty cleaning and installing the cup holders; BOTTOM ROW: Linda Grigoleit and Pari Pew and that’s Ken Dalzell with Ann.

13 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com LEFT: Bar Wijdicks and Marie Nelson, discussing some bridge-related topics while having lunch in sunny Florida during late February. They have been assured that we will keep some winter weather around for them when they get back. BELOW: Greg Caucutt’s partner’s point-of-view as everyone was seeing red at the bridge table for Valentine’s Day 2024.

14 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Happy 2024 from the RDBC! New Year’s (and all its glitz) found 12 full tables of bridge players willing to kick off the new year with a game of bridge – even if it’s on a long holiday weekend. John Miller and Georgia Basinski won the “Glitz Competition” and the New Year is off to a great start.

15 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Holiday Brunch and Charity Game 2023! Incredible work by the RDBC Social Committee, (L to R) Jan Morris, Cindy Heins, Connie Dalzell, Bonnie Fox, Dick Estry, and Mary Funk. Sixteen and a half tables of bridge players (along with some spouses and significant others) celebrating the holidays and supporting the Jeremiah Program, the RDBC’s 2023 local charity.

16 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP LEFT: Sue Greenberg helping Jerry Rosenblad find his donation to the Jeremiah Program; TOP RIGHT: Jan Morris working in the kitchen; BELOW: Joyce Lewis sampling some of the holiday spread.

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20 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Bob Roediger – new Gold Life Master! The journey for Bob began years ago, and included a 15-year break from duplicate bridge. But he came back to the game and his quest to become a GLM was realized in late 2023. BELOW: At Ann Van Ryn’s home for the big party. That’s Judy and Dick Argue conversing with Bob and Bob’s wife, Cheryl .

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22 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Halloween 2023 at St Luke’s, with lots of bridge players getting in on the costume action! Above it’s Judy Argue (L) and Becky Cook (R) being their atypical witchy selves – below it’s Sam Kraskatowski and Pam Helgeson behind the masks – and below (R) it’s Greg Caucutt as the old ball player with John Miller.

23 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Sheri French as Cruella DeVille – awesome!

24 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Winners from the 2023 Med City Fall Sectional! 97 tables came to play, with our Tournament Champion once again was Carole Mataya (she’s now a 2-time defending champ!

25 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com At the 2023 Omaha Regional, enjoying some onion rings with Warren Buffet (left to right, that’s Mike Salscheider, Joyce Lewis, Warren, Sheri French and Layne Vinje).

26 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Ann Van Ryn hosted a Life Master party for Dick Estry, who not only became a Life Master in the instant-matchpoint game in July but also a Silver Life Master! ABOVE is Dick with Carole Mataya, Barb Knutsen seated and Ann Van Ryn providing the rebuttal argument. BELOW is Dick and his most important partner, Kathy.

27 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP LEFT: Dick with Al Larson, who put Dick “over the top” in the instant matchpoint game. TOP RIGHT: Amy Caucutt, Rod Morlock, Marie Nelson and Mary Funk enjoying the festivites. BELOW: Players enjoying the super spread at the Van Ryn Estate.

28 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com It’s just not summer without a summer picnic, and the RDBC held its July get-together once again this year. The RDBC Summer Picnic included a stop by the Bleu Duck Truck – and plenty of homemade desserts. A special shout-out to the Social Committee for organizing the fun.

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30 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Rochester players went to Chicago for the Summer NABC and represented! Lance Chamberlain, Sue Greenberg, and Joyce Lewis went to the Windy City to play some cards (and have some fun away from the table as well).

31 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com This summer brought another opportunity for Rochester DBC players to make a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day. It was a “wearin’ o’ the purple” for players who played in a couple of Monday games to raise money for research and Alzheimer’s caregivers.

32 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com And once again, Rochester players really came through – the donations to this very worthy cause totalled $5,995! Every dollar counts in fighting this terrible disease, and here’s another instance of the great generosity of our local bridge club. Hopefully by next June there will be a cure for Alzheimer’s, but if not, these players will be back in purple and ready to play cards for the cause.

33 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Congratulations went out to Carol Mahoney, the RDBC’s newest Emerald Life Master! Carol topped the 7,500 masterpoint mark in May, 2023, and naturally there was a celebration to mark the occasion. LEFT: Carol is wearing her Emerald Life Master sash at Ann Van Ryn’s house. Carol’s daughter Laura made the party, celebrating her mother’s accomplishment with the rest of the crowd.

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37 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Sheri French, gifting Carol a list of the 47 face-to-face partners that Carol has played with in the past eight years to get Carol to this milestone. After some exhaustive searching, one of Carol’s bridge partners (Mary Beard) found the Emerald Life Master Ring online – and Carol was presented with the ring at the very next bridge game – which she wore throughout the afternoon.

38 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Jan Morris became the RDBC’s Newest Life Master and Don and Ann Van Ryn offered their home to host Jan’s Life Master Party. The journey, the appreciation of her fellow RDBC players, the notes from partner John Miller (pictured above, and then with his notes below right), and the food!

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40 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com St Luke’s was the location for the 2023 Rochester Spring Sectional, where 109.5 tables came to earn some silver points over three days in April. It featured players from all over, and was well represented by the RDBC at every level of competition! The big winner of the tournament was our own Carole Mataya, who scored 29.50 silver points over the three days – well out of reach of the nearest competitiors. 2023 Rochester Spring Sectional TOURNAMENT CHAMPION Carole Mataya

41 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The playing area was packed – with attendance of 109.5 tables (that’s up 17% from last year’s Spring Sectional. Sue Greenberg and Jan Morris working diligently to ensure the safety of all players at the tournament.

42 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com NEW LIFE MASTER Jan Morris NEW LIFE MASTER Rolf Hubmayr NEW LIFE MASTER Renee Smith There were several milestones at the 2023 Rochester Spring Sectional, with our own Jan Morris becoming a new Life Master! Jan needed 0.37 silver points (and had needed them for some time) which she earned in the first session of play. Another new life master was Rolf Hubmayr, from Minneapolis, who brought a bottle of wine to each session just in case that was the one. The bottle was opened at dinner Friday evening. And Renee Smith, from Charles City, Iowa, crossed the line to become a new life master on Friday afternoon. Congratulations to all of them (and how great for this to happen at a tournament)! Michele Grindal from Minneapolis became a new Silver Life Master on Friday, and Maria Roswall from La Crosse earned the points to become a new Ruby Life Master. Well done, everyone. NEW SILVER LIFE MASTER NEW RUBY LIFE MASTER Michele Grindal Maria Roswall 141 players had fun over the three days, with 118 of them earning some silver points.

42 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Happy birthday to Sue! (Cake, pizza, and some of the largest cookies ever helping to celebrate with the 13-table Monday crowd!)

43 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The New Orleans LA Spring NABC! And of course a contingent of RDBC players there to have some fun and “represent!” BELOW (L to R): Marie Nelson, Gloria Georger, Joyce Lewis, Rich Greenberg (AKA “the chaperone”), Ed Prosser, Gloria Basinski at the airport getting ready to paint the town red. LEFT: Marie and Gloria, fighting over who gets to drive the rental car.

44 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com . . .and the restaurants!

45 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The “wearin’ o’ the Green” for St Patrick’s Day 2023! Even with a few tables of players at the New Orleans NABC our St Luke’s game was fired up. From top left and around the horn clockwise – Carole Mataya (the lass who directed the game!), Joanne Long, Sheri French, Jerry Rosenblad (in his Minnesota Wild hockey jersey, ready for battle at the table “it was the only green thing in my closet!”), John Miller and Bob O’Roediger.

46 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP ROW: Ron Seeger (“I’m not Irish, but I just happened to put something green on today!”), Ron Bymers (“you bet I’m wearing green!”) and Colleen Stacey (not just wearing the green, but holding on to some green as well). BOTTOM ROW: Matt Belau and Layne Vinje.

47 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The RDBC’s newest Gold Life Master is Ann Van Ryn! Crossing the 2,500 masterpoint mark at the end of February, 2023, Ann’s party took place at St Luke’s – where a great time was had by all. LEFT: Ann and her cake – which she graciously shared with the rest of the RDBC players. BELOW: Sue Greenberg addresses the crowd following the Monday game while everyone is enjoying some of the tasty treats to celebrate Ann’s milestone.

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50 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com You don’t normally want your partner seeing RED at the bridge table, but RDBC players did not mind as most were wearing red during our Valentine’s Day 2023 game!

51 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Of course RDBC players have been known to “stretch their wings” and spread their goodwill and bridge sportsmanship elsewhere – for example, as in the middle of winter! A contingent of RDBC players made the trip to the Hilton Head Island Regional in South Carolina – and had a terrific time. (Below: Harlan and Earlene Wickre, Kent and Connie Dalzell, Jan Morris, Ann Van Ryn, part of Greg Caucutt, and missing from the photo is the person taking it, Sue Greenberg.)

52 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: A couple of scenes that are not your typical upper Midwest bridge player-experienced views, with the beach during the day and the moon at night. BELOW: Lance Chamberlain joins Kent and Connie Dalzell for a post-bridge meal.

53 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com 2023 – the new year marked at the RDBC with the “Glitz Games!” This year’s winners in the Glitz contest were Greg Caucutt and Ann Van Ryn, each sporting something very sparkly from the wardrobe of Genny Rice.

54 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com (LEFT) Board President Linda Grigoleit and Club Manager Sue Greenberg present the RDBC’s donation to our local 2022 charity for this year to The Landing’s Director of Operations, Shawna Bowman. (The generosity of our local bridge club and its members is one of the really super things about our group of players!)

55 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Ho ho ho, indeed! After a couple of years without any face-to-face bridge, the annual RDBC Holiday Brunch and Bridge Game was on hold. . .but in 2022, the big event was back (and in a BIG way!) (R to L) Marie Nelson (one of the bruncheon organizers), Club Manager Sue Greenberg, Mary Funk (another on the organizing board), and outgoing Board President Linda Grigoleit light up the room LEFT: Mary Ann Butler, Shar Owens, Cindy Heins, and Bev Northouse enjoying the pre-bridge game brunch LEFT: John Ryder, along with Judy and Dick Argue

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57 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Pre-bridge game announcements provided in a slightly more festive-than-normal atmosphere

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61 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com St Luke’s providing the proper atmosphere for such a holiday event!

62 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Rochester held a one-day NLM event to kick off December 2022, and the local players were such good hosts (maybe too good) – that a pair of out-of-town players came in 1st! Paul and Cathy Wehrman (RIGHT, TOP) from the Twin Cities came in 1st overall in the morning session, and John and Janet Munson (RIGHT, BOTTOM) from La Crosse came in 1st overall in the afternoon game.

63 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Joyce Lewis’ fabulous fashion statements are not limited to above the table.

64 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The annual Halloween Costume Contest was held at St. Luke’s in 2022 – and what a variety of costumes! The winners (as judged by the RDBC Board members in attendance) were John Miller (back row left, in witch’s hat and black wig) and Mary Bulau (she’s the taco 4th from the right). Matt Belau went as an “award-winning bridge player who doesn’t play bridge all that well” but it might have been the first tux worn at an RDBC bridge game.

65 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Bev Northouse and Mary Ann Butler, Becky Cook, Pam Helgeson, and Kent and Connie Dalzell

66 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP LEFT: Mary Pat Adams with a hat that might frighten any opponent! TOP RIGHT: Marie Nelson wearing a sweater for the season. BOTTOM LEFT: Joanne Long with a scary necklace – and less-than-scary partner in Mike Salscheider.

67 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Arguably the RDBC’s most stylish player would be Ann Van Ryn! Here she is holding up a multi-column article from the Rochester Post-Bulletin all about her classic style (which the article states is “through the ages” but anyone who knows Ann knows that her style is “ageless!”)

68 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com CHAT bridge returns to the RDBC! Monday mornings at St. Luke’s Church, bridge players who are just starting to get familiar with the game have the chance to bid and play hands under the watchful eye of some RDBC mentors – “chat bridge” returned in October 2022. TOP LEFT: Jan Morris (standing, masked) monitoring a table of beginner bridge players. MIDDLE LEFT: John Ryder watching the play of the hand. LOWER LEFT: Ann Van Ryn helps out with determining the correct line of play.

69 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Rochester’s first Fall Sectional, held in October 2022, drew 94 tables over 3 days. Players came from Mankato, Northfield, the Twin Cities, Duluth, La Crosse, Iowa, all over to earn some silver points at St. Luke’s. LEFT: Janet Erie (L) and Cindy Heins won the Thursday Morning 749ers pairs! BELOW: Ken Winter and Ted Peck won the Thursday Open pairs.

70 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Thursday afternoon at the Rochester Fall Sectional, Earlene and Harlan Wickre topped the 749er crowd – while Barry Purrington (below, left) and Bill Voedisch (below, right) won the Friday Open pairs. The 9.90 silver points that Barry and Bill earned put Bill Voedisch over the top of 5,000 masterpoints to become Unit 103’s newest Diamond Life Master!

71 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com A group of six players from Carlton College stopped by to get into the action, and Gloria Georger and John Miller (below) seemed to be the perfect partnership!

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73 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The big winners in the 2022 RDBC’s Friendship Swiss Teams this summer – Al Larson, Rod Morlock, Joanne Long, and Barb Knutsen Carole Mataya (L), Georgia Basinski (in one of Genny Rice’s glittering blouses), Greg Caucutt and Hazel Blume concentrating very hard

74 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Sue Greenberg and John Miller checking scores (L to R) Susan Dodge, Jean Nigbur, Riki Jursik, and Mary Webster

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76 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The RDBC’s annual get together over the holidays last winter was delayed due to COVID concerns, but thanks to Greg Caucutt, Betty Shidler, and Joanne Long, along with an appearance by the Bleu Duck Truck, everyone got together on a mild August afternoon for some lunch and then (of course) cards! ABOVE: Sue Greenberg addressing the crowd. BELOW: Terri Seeger asking “what’s good?”

77 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Syl and Yvonne Sterioff, Rich Greenberg, and Betty Shidler. Spouses and significant others were also welcome to partake. BELOW: Cindy Heins provided the margaritas.

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81 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Once again, Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club players showed their generosity and commitment to the cause of Alzheimer's, with their contributions during the Longest Day in June, 2022. Our local club’s donations this year of $5,258 was tops in Unit 103 – first in the state of Minnesota – first in District 14 – first in all of Region 5 – and 33rd overall in the country! Really something to be proud of, supporting those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers – well done, everyone!

82 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Joyce Lewis and Sue Greenberg at the 2022 Summer NABC in Providence RI – they picked up a pair “in the elevator” to play in a teams game, coming in 5th in the top bracket for 5+ gold points! No wonder they are celebrating!

83 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Ed Prosser and John Ryder become Life Masters! Party for Ed and John held at the Van Ryn Estate, where there was much rejoicing!

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86 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Ann and Don Van Ryn receiving a gift certificate to FiveWest as a thank you for all the RDBC party events they have hosted.

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88 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com 2022’s Unit 103 Awards Party was held in St. Paul. . .and Rochester players were IN THE HOUSE. Once again, our local players dominated the Ace of Clubs and Mini-McKenney categories for 2021. TOP: Greg Caucutt checking in. CENTER RIGHT: Sue Greenberg, in charge of the whole party, with some of the catering. BOTTOM: Some of the awards themselves, many won by Rochester players.

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90 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com April 2022 brought Rochester’s first sectional tournament in three years. Here were some of the big winners (with Al Larson and Rod Morlock the biggest winners of the tournament, earning 18.64 silver points in 3 days!).

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92 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Happy Birthday to our club manager Sue!

93 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com The “Luck O’ The Cards” on St Patricks Day 2022! Most everyone wore some green, and while some players may likely have seen some RED at the table, a festive time was had by all (that’s Sheri French and John Miller in the back row with the headgear). BELOW: And not to be outdone – the 499er crowd on Thursday. You might say they’re a bit more “green” than the Open crowd on Wednesday that week, but had just as much fun.

94 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Mary Funk became a Life Master during the month of January 2022 during an online Swiss Teams game – and of course a party had to be held! Once again the Van Ryn Estate opened its gates to allow for some festivites, this time to celebrate Mary’s achievement of becoming a Life Master.

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100 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Valentine’s Day 2022 Club Championship game, and there were a lot of bridge players seeing RED on this day! ABOVE is a photo with everyone who played in the game at St. Luke’s – and BELOW is a photoshopped compilation of 35 separate photos (each player wearing red had a photo taken of themself to ensure safety while unmasked for the picture) showing some smiling faces.

101 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP LEFT: John Miller with a bit of New Year’s Eve Glitz at St. Luke’s TOP RIGHT: Jan Morris and Tom Griogleit teaming up for a GNT game BOTTOM: Who is that masked Santa director?

102 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Who wore it better (the December 2021 edition)?

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104 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Cindy Heins hosting an end of year get-together to thank RDBC volunteers from this past year, along with Layne Vinje as the masked man with a canapé BELOW (standing, L to R): John Ryder, Greg Caucutt, and Linda Grigoleit (seated, L to R): Marie Nelson, Carole Mataya, and Betty Shidler

105 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Layne sampling the goods, along with Tom Grigoleit and Joyce Lewis BELOW: Ann Van Ryn, Joanne Long, and Betty Shidler enjoying some conversation in Cindy’s kitchen

106 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com During the COVID pandemic, John Woog crossed the finish line to become a Life Master; and just as face-to-face bridge was opening up, both Sheri French and Marie Nelson earned enough masterpoints at the 2021 La Crosse Sectional to become Life Masters as well! All three were honored at a post-Wednesday bridge game party at the Van Ryn Estate in December, 2021. (John was unable to attend, but spoken of highly in his absence!)

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109 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com RDBC players representing at the 2021 Fall NABC in Austin, Texas! ABOVE: Lance Chamberlain and Joyce Lewis enjoying Happy Hour between playing sessions. RIGHT: Club Manager Sue Greenberg enjoying some of the Austin, Texas atmosphere at night. All three had fun at the NABC and came back with a few stories to share as well.

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111 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Our first post-COVID Sectional! Held at St. Luke’s, 20 of 25 different players earned silver points, got a free lesson between sessions from Sue Greenberg, had a FREE LUNCH (see the chef, BELOW), and all had a good time. Safety protocols were in place and fun was had by all.

112 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Even with the COVID pandemic forcing bridge players to stay out of the clubs, with online play RDBC players still dominated the Unit 103 Awards in 2021, coming in 1st place in 8 of the 15 masterpoint categories. The Awards in 2021 were presented during a ZOOM presentation, hosted by Unit 103 President Warren Nelson (in the top left box below.)

113 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com LEFT TO RIGHT: Ed Prosser, Layne Vinje, Sheri French, and Matt Belau team up to take on all comers at the 2021 La Crosse Sectional. It was here that Sheri earned her Life Master title with her longtime partner Layne (and Ed and Matt, who were along to help push her over the top.)

114 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Ann Van Ryn, presenting Genny’s Diamond Life Master party cake, along with Jan Morris and Don Van Ryn at the Van Ryn Estate. BELOW: Genny Rice at her Diamond Life Master party, May 2021

115 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Genny Rice and her family BELOW: Linda Grigoleit, John Ryder, Tom Grigoleit

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117 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Mary Beard, Betty Shidler, Sheri French, Carol Mahoney, and Teresa Sackett BELOW: Cheryl Roediger, Sue Greenberg, and Bob Roediger

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119 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Genny Rice, addressing her family and friends for the first time recognized as the RDBC’s newest Diamond Life Master.

120 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Genny’s son (standing) relating the two things that you NEVER did with Genny as you grew up in the Rice household – one was to wake her up in the morning, the other was to interrupt her when she was on the phone discussing bridge hands from the night before

121 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Joanne Long (L), along with Ed Prosser and Renee, one of Genny’s daughters, exchanging stories at Genny’s DLM party

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123 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Greg Caucutt, recovering from surgery at the time of Genny’s party, was Genny’s long time partner during this quest to 5,000 masterpoints. He had planned the party for months! He was unable to attend due to emergency surgery, but got many, many updates while recovering. Genny joked at her party that Greg “was going to get her to 5,000 MPs if it killed him – and it damn near did.”

124 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP: Joyce Lewis and Linda Grigoleit BELOW: Carole Mataya and Carol Mahoney admire Genny’s new bling

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127 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Club Manager Sue Greenberg (R) presents Genny Rice with the “traveling diamond ring” that goes from player to player as they achieve the Diamond Life Master status. Genny, 93 at the time of her party, joked by referencing her age that “whomever is going to get this ring next better hurry up”

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129 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com LEFT: Ann and Layne Vinje discuss the proper way to cut party pizza BELOW: Terri Seeger caught with a glass in each hand

130 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Sue catching a photo of the two Diamond Life Masters at the party, Carol Mahoney and Genny LEFT: Ann Van Ryn's famous lemon bars make an appearance for this occasion (but they did not appear for too long as they disappeared fast)

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143 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com LEFT: The main playing area at the Hadley Creek NE location (which held about 15 tables in the main room) BELOW: Betty Shidler (L) and Marsha Woolums (R) take a break from playing to discuss their strategy

144 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: The St. Patrick’s Day crowd at Hadley Creek BELOW: Tom Grigoleit helps to instruct some volunteer caddies at the RDBC tournament

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146 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com LEFT: Marie Nelson and Ed Prosser going over their convention card to make sure there are absolutely no misunderstandings during their upcoming game BELOW: Playing at the Hadley Creek location in Rochester

147 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Deb Ernster, Yvonne Sterioff, and Betty Shidler

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149 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP: Cindy Heins (L), Gloria Georger and Pari Pew (standing) along with Bob Roediger, Syl Sterioff, and Greg Caucutt join the rest of the Wednesday afternoon game as Val McGrath (left, BELOW) makes her very first speech recognized as the latest new Life Master

150 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP: Gloria Georger (L) passes her Life Master crown to Val McGrath BOTTOM: Grant Boadwine (center) examines the new “green sheet” that’s handed out, which is the player roster and player information for RDBC members

151 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP: Serious stuff as NLMs play at the Rochester Med City Regional in 2019 BOTTOM: Regional Tournament Co-Chair Layne Vinje, Partnership Chair Sheri French, and Tournament Co-Chair Bar Wijdicks

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153 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Putting up all day with your partner’s overbidding can REALLY take a toll (as Carol Mahoney takes a short break between bridge sessions at the Rochester Med City Regional in 2019).

154 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com RIGHT: Carole Mataya BELOW: Mike Salscheider, Rita Bertsch, and Pari Pew

155 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com RIGHT: Greg Caucutt, showing his true colors at the RDBC Halloween game in 2019 BELOW: Some of the spread at the 2019 Halloween game

156 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Gloria Georger (L) at the RDBC Halloween bridge game in 2019 along with Mary Funk, whose costume was to go as Gloria BELOW: Syl Sterioff (center) checking out the offerings at the 2019 Holiday Party, with Dan Kelly (left) monitoring distribution and Alice Ernster as “the distraction”

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160 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP: June and Mike Kmieick BOTTOM: Marilyn and Steve Riederer

161 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com ABOVE: Bar Wijdicks teaching a class at the Hadley Creek location BELOW: Layne Vinje and Judy Hansen making boards for an RDBC tournament

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165 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com L to R: Pari Pew, Sharlene Owens, Sue Greenberg, and Joanne Long, enjoying a little time away from the bridge table (although bridge is likely to have come up in the conversation once or twice!)

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181 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Glittering Glitz at the New Year’s Eve game in 2017 with Sue Greenberg, June Lamb Kmiecik, and Alice Ernster

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185 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com (L to R): Colleen Stacey, Dolores Welte, and Carol Mahoney.

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188 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Moving Day, 2020. At the height of the pandemic, the RDBC lost its lease at the Hadley Creek playing site, home to overbidding for many years. When the tables (and more!) needed to be moved to a storage facility, these hearty souls showed up on a chilly late fall day (sunny, though, and before the snow showed up) to load everything out.

189 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Genny Rice and Alice Ernster on Valentine’s Day as the sweethearts that they are.

190 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Genny Rice celebrating her crossing the 5,000 MP mark with just one slice of cake.

191 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP (L to R): Jan Morris, Jean Nigbur, Mary Funk, and Betty Shidler BOTTOM (L to R): Jan Morris, Joyce Lewis, Bev Northouse, Greg Caucutt, Genny Rice, Gloria Georger, Matt Belau, and Ann Van Ryn

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195 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP (L to R): Arne Fockler, Judy Argue, Wayne Rogelstad BOTTOM (L to R): Patricia McCleese, Carol Mahoney, Mark Prochazka, Lance Chamberlain

196 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP (L to R): Layne Vinje, Rod Morlock, Pushpa Prakash, Greg Caucutt BOTTOM: Lyle Henning, Jean Witz, Rose Henning, Mary Webster

197 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com TOP (L to R): Dick Estry, Shar Owens, Al Larson BOTTOM (L to R): Bob Roediger, Sheri French, Ed Prosser, Mary Beard

198 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com Gloria Georger (L) about ready to get her game fee from the cash stash in her bra.

199 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com BOTTOM: Linda and Tom Grigoleit, chairs of the 2019 Rochester Sectional.

200 Rochester Duplicate Bridge Club player photos medcitybridge.com It’s not just in front of the camera that RDBC players shine! This group of bridge players enjoys contributing back to the community. One notable example in 2021 was the RDBC winding up as one of the top 40 bridge clubs in North America in fundraising for the annual Alzheimer’s Association Longest Day event. This is just one of many charities supported by RDBC players throughout the course of each year.

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