Arlene Hill

Minnesota Bridge regretfully announces that Arline Hill died this past weekend.  You can read Arlene's newspaper obituary here; a funeral will be held in Roseville on Saturday, December 16th.

Arlene was the female Clark Kent of bridge competitors.  You would never guess from her mild, attractive blonde exterior that she was a fierce competitor who would rip you to shreds at the table.  But; it was true! 

Unfortunately, Arlene's long illness kept her away from the bridge table for many years.  Still, Minnesota bridge players will never forget Arlene's abilities and her well known partnership with fellow blonde demon Essie Mersky.

More remembrances below.  Please do feel free to send in your own thoughts!

Peder Langsetmo:

Arlene Hill, past president of Minneapolis Grand Slam Club, chair and organizer of many a tournament, great bridge player and  a wonderful person.

Dave Anderson:

Arlene Hill, I think, was a much better bridge player than most gave her credit for.  She looked like a stereotypical suburban housewife, was blonde and had a very, very soft voice.  She would often use quite expert plays -- squeezes, end plays and the like -- and never acknowledge in any way that she had committed anything but an accident -- leaving one player to remark, shortly before the 1983 bridge National Championships, held in Minneapolis that year, that she be required to wear a warning sign around her neck for the benefit of out of town players.

Shel Weinstein:

Arlene Hill:  a very nice lady.

Comments

[Theresa Kehe]

I had the honor of playing with Arlene as a partner, on and off, for a couple of years. She was an incredible bridge player and an even better partner. She would explain why a different choice of play or defense would have been better without ever raising her voice or being critical. I learned a great deal from Arlene. I hope that some day I will be one-half as good a bridge player and partner as Arlene.