Diamond in the Ruff Newsletter Article
By Maxine Reagh
Unit 509 Spring Sectional 2026
Our Spring Sectional in Petaluma March 7 and 8 was a success in every way, except financially. Everything went smoothly and people enjoyed the “trimmings”- great all-day snacks and beverages, great sandwich options for Saturday’s lunch and another free, full buffet of delicious
salads and croissant sandwiches provided by Jackie Ortiz. Director Lynn Yokel kept the pace going and assured that all went smoothly according to each day’s schedule.
Many, many people contributed snacks, insuring that there was always something to munch on throughout the morning and afternoon and many hands helped to put the tables and chairs away at the end for a speedy clean-up. For this, we are grateful. And Kathy Venton made many people happy by making partnerships for both pairs and teams.
The big Unit 509 winners on Saturday Open Pairs were Nancy Gunn and Bob Klein, coming in first for 15.81 silver points. In second place were David Mendel and James Reed, winning 11.86 silver.
Team Game results for Sunday were:
A, AX (out of 8 teams)
1. Bob Klein, Erwin Linzer, Nancy Gunn, Sarita Mathiasen 9.63
2. Lynn Blumenthal, Kimberly Fanaday, Sigrid Price, Peter Lit 7.22
3. Tony Jackson, Patricia Hertz, John Oswalt, Kathy Venton 5.12
B/C/D (out of 17 teams)
1. Jeff Sacher, Nancy Rude, Hans van Boldrik, Roy Redlich 5.57
2. John Shribbs, Patricia Shribbs, Carol Morse, Andy Andrews, Lynn Dondero 4.18
4. Lori Kiefer, Philip Wilner, Laurie Vree, Judy Duport 2.50
Marin Sectional Results
Unit 509 players had a strong showing at the Marin Sectional March 13 and 14. In Open Pairs on Saturday, Lynn Blumenthal and Crispin Barrere placed first for 17.53 silver points and Nancy Gunn and Bob Klein placed second for 13.15 silver points.
Sunday Bracketed Teams:
First place in Bracket 1
Larry Spanier, Tom Jacobsen, James Reed, Kate Hill 14.81
First place in Bracket 2
Tony Jackson, Patricia Hertz, Jeff Sacher, David Mendel 7.70
Third place in Bracket 2
Gerald Besses, Cyrus Ansari, Andy Andrews, Carol Morse 4.33
First place in Bracket 3
Conrad Larkin, Bob Goetzinger, Karen Rocco, James Wallace 4.64
Representing Unit 509 at the NABC In St. Louis!
Kate Hill, Evelyn Holtz and Sara Rothmuller went to the Nationals in St. Louis in March. They love those platinum points and they each got a good amount of ‘em. Evelyn was thrilled to have qualified for the Silidor Pairs. She liked the St.Louis BBQ. Despite tornado warnings, and a long walk to the playing area, she said it was loads of fun. Sara commented that she like hearing so many languages being spoken, indicating an international presence. Unfortunately for her, her partner was unable to play so she
played with new partners. And she came home with Covid.
Kim Fusch, New Life Master!
A big CONGRATULATIONS is in order for Kim Fusch who just became a Bronze Life Master, skipping over Life Master. Though she has had well over 500 points for a couple of years, she needed the gold points to make it to Life Master.
It was an online BBO ACBL Regional Gold Rush game on March 30 that put her over the finish line. Just 1.6 points shy of her goal, she came in 3rd out of 75 people and earned 2.45 gold points.
The BBO Centennial Gold Tournament in December gave her another opportunity for gold. Day after day, Kim kept winning gold points with two online partners, one who lives in Maryland and another in Montana. Unit 509 partners Jeff Sachar and Jeremy Brott also helped Kim win online gold. Kim cannot travel to national tournaments so these online opportunities are well, golden!
Kim began playing bridge in 2010 and, at her very first face-to-face game, she won her first gold points – 0.03 of ‘em!
Big Games!!
Mark Hersko and Jacki Ortiz got a 71.77% game on BBO and placed first out of 122 pairs on Feb.28.
Evelyn Holtz and Jacki Ortiz got a 72% game on BBO and placed first out of 135 pairs on March 31.
Rank Changes
• Douglas Schrock is a Regional Master
• Kim Fusch, Life Master, Bronze Life Master
• Jane De Briyn is a Ruby Life Master
• Laurie Vree is an Advanced NABC Master
• Patricia Dunbar is a Bronze
Award Winners
The winners of the Mini-McKenney and Ace of Clubs awards have been apprised of their status and have received their Free Play Coupons. Their names will appear in the June issue of the Heart of the District and the awards ceremony in their honor will occur after the lesson at our Unit Game on Saturday, May 16 in Petaluma.
However, I must mention that Jeff Sachar got recognition in the April Bridge Bulletin for being the top in the nation for accumulating 189 points in the 300-500 category in the Mini-McKenney contest. He was second in the nation in the Ace of Clubs contest in the same category.
Corrick Brown
“Corrick Brown, the longtime conductor who transformed the Santa Rosa Symphony from a modest community ensemble into a fully professional orchestra and became a central figure in the cultural life of Sonoma County, died at his home in Santa Rosa. He was 95.” These words are taken from an obituary written about a very interesting man that appeared in the Press Democrat on March 29. Corrick’s many accomplishments and talents, combined with his very outgoing, friendly personality, made him a gem in the community. He played bridge in Santa Rosa and Sonoma and, in recent years, played frequently online. He had over 2,500 masterpoints
Patricia Frenaye
Patricia Congdon Frenaye attended Bradford Jr College in Massachusetts, Berkeley Secretarial School in New Jersey, and Rutgers University in New Jersey. She worked for the State of California for 20 years. She was an incredibly fast typist, diligent and reliable in work and in life.
Patricia achieved Gold Life Master status in the American Contract Bridge League and is remembered for her excellent bridge playing. She also loved gardening, and her roses were divine. Patricia played for many years in Sonoma and at the Bridge Gallery.
Patricia died peacefully in her home of natural causes one month shy of 100 years. She had hoped to reach that goal because of her competitive nature.
Friend Betty Sather comments that she learned a lot of bridge from Patricia when she, Barbara Tufts and Helene Gay played as a foursome. Betty remembers great chats about tennis, classical music and opera.
Patricia was born in New Jersey on April 22, 1926. Margaret Cecelia Koeniger was her mother and Arthur Stanley Congdon was her father. She is predeceased by her brothers, Arthur Stanley Congdon Jr, Douglas Congdon, and Donald J Congdon. She was formerly married to William E Frenaye, deceased. She is survived by daughter Polly Frenaye-Hutcheson, son Thomas W Frenaye, and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
