Story by Joy Kurt (BBO: Twirlygirl)

Some of my fondest memories of playing bridge happened with my 100-year-old bridge partner. We met in 2003 at the Williamsport Bridge Club, and as I became a stronger bridge player, we started playing together more often. She has so many crazy life stories to tell.

One of her best stories is of how, in 1946, as a senior in college at Susquehanna University, she was punished for playing bridge in the dining hall on a Sunday afternoon. She and her partner, another female student, were grounded to their dorm rooms for a week. They were only allowed to attend meals and their college classes. They were not even allowed to go to church, and definitely no visitors. The boys that they were playing with received no punishment whatsoever.

So, 60 years later, she decided to write a letter to the president of the university and share her story. She had used a post-it note to cover her “crime of the time” and asked him not to lift it off until after he had completely read her story.

She asked him if they had rules like that nowadays. She said that he wrote her a nice letter back, thanking her for so wonderfully sharing her story with him. He even shared it with some of his colleagues. He ended his letter, “For what it is worth, please consider this your official presidential pardon for your sins of 60 years ago. We look forward to seeing you sometime soon.” She, of course, then shared her story with every bridge player she knew. She also sent a copy of the letter to the university, and it has been filed in the university archives.

After she turned 98, I decided to contact an old friend from my college days who was a retired journalist. He met with her, wrote her story, and got it published in Pennsylvania Magazine. I purchased 5 copies of that magazine to give to her. She wrote a note in one and handed it back to me. I was filled with joy to read the words she wrote: “To Joy, my favorite bridge partner. Marjorie Winder.” At that time, she still had lots of bridge partners, including 3 of her 4 kids and ladies at the Woman’s Club. I was so honored to be her “favorite.”

Marge and I still play online 3 nights a week against another couple that we knew from the Williamsport Bridge Club. We celebrated her 100th birthday this past December. She is an amazing bridge-playing lady, and I am honored and privileged to play with her.

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