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megram - 55JunGTA - Index

Legend in Bridge Circles
Take the game seriously, but
not too seriously.
The story goes that on the
evening of September 29, 1929,
36-year-old John Bennett and his
wife Myrtle were playing bridge
at home with another couple,
Charles and Mayme Hoffman, in
Kansas City, Missouri.
The Bennetts argued about
each other’s bids and play all
evening. Matters came to a head
when John failed to make a fourspade
contract. The two argued
heatedly. John said he would
rather spend the night in a hotel
than stay with Myrtle. She then
rushed into the bedroom,
returned with a loaded pistol and
shot him. He died from the gunshot
wound.
She was tried for murder in
March 1931,but was acquitted by
the all-male jury. Rumour has it
that Myrtle rarely played bridge
after the trial, because she had
trouble finding a bridge partner.
The fatal deal
The contract was four
spades.The opening lead was the
ace of diamonds.
North (Myrtle Bennett)
A1063
1084
4
A9842
West
Q72
AJ3
AQ1092
J6
East
4
Q94
KJ763
Q753
South (John Bennett)
KJ985
K762
85
K10
Something to
Sing About
Volunteering at the
Savoy Society for three decades
By Iris Winston
Active Retirement
Music has been an important part of Ted Metelnick’s life for as long as he
can remember.
“Music came to me through my mother’s family. My grandfather had a marvellous
voice,” recalls the long-time member of the Savoy Society of Ottawa.“I
also had a wonderful high school music teacher in Winnipeg, where I grew up.”
It was through that music teacher that he came to know the works of W.S.
Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. During his high school years in the 1950s, he sang in
his first Gilbert and Sullivan opera.And he has been involved in the comic operas
ever since.
Since joining the Savoy Society of Ottawa in 1980, he has been part of the
cast of all but two shows. The Pirates of Penzance, which was onstage at
Ottawa’s Centrepointe Theatre marked Ted’s 29th time onstage with the group.
He is also a past president and has been the treasurer for the last five years.
In addition,he is the group’s administrator and historian and prepares the show
program each year.And to cap his connection, his home telephone doubles as
the company’s message centre. He also volunteers his services to a couple of
other groups in town and sings with the local choral society, but his greatest
time commitment is to Savoy.
The company holds auditions for the annual Gilbert and Sullivan opera in
early September. Rehearsals build from once to three times a week, until the
annual large-cast production — with full orchestra — bursts onto the
Centrepointe stage each spring.
“Each show is a six-month commitment,” says Ted, who took early retirement
from IBM in 1992 after 32 years with the technological giant,“but it’s a
leisurely process and there is plenty of time for social events and getting to
know people.”
However,Ted’s many other administrative obligations with Savoy make his
volunteerism “a half- to full-time job.”
“I really enjoy it,” he says.“Savoy is a passion with me. And I am grateful
that, at 74, I can still go onstage and sing.”
June 2008 • 22 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine