Newcomers to
Northwest
Indiana Bridge
Five new faces and five delightful personalities came to our gala New Year’s
Day party.
Photo on left: Barb Wetzel and Connie
Galanti
Bonnie (as she prefers to be called)
Galanti lives in Crest Hill. She began
playing bridge at the age of 13, when
her brother came home from college
and told her, “You have to play bridge.”
Her mother always played, and her
older sister completed the foursome.
Bonnie only played a couple of times in
the 60s, and it wasn’t until the late 70s
that she had her first taste of duplicate
bridge once or twice a month. In the
late 80s she picked up a partner, with
whom she has played for the last 25
years. Presently, she plays 4 or 5 times
a week.
Bonnie was an elementary school
teacher. She developed a computer
curriculum for kindergarten through
8th grade, which she taught for 7 years.
She has 3 children, 5 grandchildren and
1 great-grandchild. She loves to read
and to bake cakes.
Her closing remark — I love bridge — I
play often — I will play with anybody!
Barb Wetzel lives in Joliet and has
about 150 masterpoints. Bonnie has
been mentoring her, and they play
together once a week. They’ve been
playing together for 5 years.
Photo on right: Mary Ellen Penovich
Barb has played bridge since her 20s. She started lessons about 30
Mary Ellen lives in Crown Point and came to the 299er years ago. Her instructor was also a director, and she started playgame on New Year’s Day as a guest of Arleen Bakota.
ing his game. She likes the challenge that bridge presents, of learnMary Ellen played on one occasion at least 5 years ago ing something new and just for the idea of persevering with the
at the game in Calumet Township. On January 1 she
game.
earned her first masterpoint — 0.46.
Barb was a registered nurse. She has 3 girls, 6 grandchildren and 1
Mary Ellen has been playing bridge for over 50 years.
great-grandchild. Besides bridge she also knits and sews.
She finds it challenging, considers it good for her
mentality, and she always meets such nice people.
Photo on bottom: Bob Hewett and Karen Kramer
Before retirement Mary Ellen worked as a secretary/
Bob lives in Hazel Crest and is new to ACBL — has been a member
receptionist/clerk in a doctor’s office. She had 3
for about 5 months. He enjoys playing with the pros. He has been
children (she lost her daughter this past spring), and
playing bridge for a long time — but not the “right way”, he says.
she has 2 grandchildren.
He and Karen have been working together most evenings to learn
the conventions. “Communication with your partner is difficult
She has written a newsletter for a widows’ group at
sometimes,” he notes.
her church for 10 years and another newsletter for a
seniors‘ group at St. Joan of Arc Church for 12 years.
Bob learned bridge back in World War II when he was 20 years old.
She also volunteers at St. Mary’s Hospital in Hobart.
He was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base. He visited NorthShe always has done crafts — anything with a needle western University and met up with some sorority girls, who intro— sewing, crocheting, knitting . . .
duced bridge to him. He says that bridge stimulates your mind to
the extent that you don’t lose your mind.
Karen Kramer‘s bridge career had three starts. In
Bob was in the printing and packaging business and owned his own
her 20s she took lessons and played bridge in Park
company. He retired when he was 80 years old. He has 2 sons, 3
Forest. Later she played with her mother (who was
grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He belongs to the Rotary
her motivation) at Tree Towns Bridge Club in Elmhurst. Club and an investment club and still sings in the choir. He flew
For the last two years she has played at South Subur- planes during the war. He was born and raised in St. Joseph, MO.
ban Bridge Center.
Karen was trained as a chemist. She started her career as a research chemist at Sinclair Research, Inc. in Harvey, IL. She worked
as a polymer chemist and later became a technical magazine writer and editor writing about chemical process equipment,
and the paint, coatings and adhesives industries.
Karen likes to golf. In the summer she plays in two 9-hole leagues in the suburbs. An avocation for most of her life was playing the viola in several local orchestras. Her son and his family live in Tucson.
Both Karen and Bob have already saved January 1 to play again at the Elk’s Club, since they liked it so much their first time.
These newcomers were delightful. It certainly was our pleasure to have made their acquaintance. We hope to see them again at our northwest Indiana games, and we wish them many
years of good bridge playing.