John Foster Plays Bridge     

I began playing bridge as a Yale freshman.  Three roommates already knew something about the game and I “had to be the fourth”.

As a college junior I played in my first duplicate game and got one top board.  That was when I passed the hand out in fourth seat!  I continued playing socially during a three-year stint in the Air Force and later when I met my wife, Lorraine, I discovered that we both enjoyed the game.  Bridge, in a certain sense, brought us together.

We played social bridge until the 70’s, then began playing duplicate at a local club.    My first foray beyond the club duplicate came a few years later with a friend at the Nationals in Washington DC.  I got there a day early and played with a pick-up partner in a 99er pairs.   We had a 72% game.  That did it.  I was hooked!

If I had to choose the single most important attribute of a good bridge player, it would be patience.   Patience in learning the game, patience with partner who may not always play accurately, patience with yourself when you realize there was a better bid/play to make.   In teaching beginners for 25 years, I found myself constantly preaching patience to my students who could easily be frustrated with so much information on the table.   Accordingly, my best piece of advice to any player is to make patience a part of one’s bridge arsenal - - in learning the game, in being a good partner and in self-control.  

Personal history in SCC

My first two goals in retirement were to achieve Life Master status and to get my teacher certification.  I very much wanted to teach the game.  Sam Fuller and I were certified together in the early 90’s at the Nationals in Orlando.   I began teaching beginners for our club in 1992 with Audrey Grant’s Club Series, using the overhead projector in the Royal Room.  I continued each year until 2013 when my wife and I moved to Freedom Plaza where I have been teaching with Marian Howarth, Joan Macholl and Carol Hargrave.   The American Bridge Teachers Association voted me a Runner-up for “Bridge Teacher of the Year” in 2013.  I shall always be grateful to my fellow teachers, Pat Rippel, Ronda O’Farrell and Marian Howarth who designed a presentation book, sent to the ATBA in competition for the award.  Additionally, I am most grateful for the many testimonials offered by former students and fellow bridge players in connection with the award. Finally, I owe thanks to Jerry Harter, our SCCDBA President at the time, for his warm support of my candidacy.  Over the years, I have given “mini-lectures” prior to 199er games and “Bridge Plus” games, initiated the first “bridge practice” games in the Caper Room, entertained at club events, cooked for picnics and served on the SCCDBA Board as Chair of Publicity.   Looking back, I estimate that I’ve brought almost 1000 SCC residents into the game.