This week, our Minnesota bridge community lost a long time fine and friendly competitor and an all round excellent man: John Westrom. We celebrate that John had such a long and full life, even as we mourn his passing.
Friend Ingrid Stocking was kind enough to share this warm remembrance of John.
We all miss John. It is rare for such a good player to be so widely loved. John was a kind partner for beginners such as myself, and a challenge for the experts who competed with him.
I got to know John when he moved to Lakeville and needed a ride get to the Bridge Center. He liked to listen to my Leonard Cohen CD’s, as he and his wife had performed his music in younger days.
Despite being in his 90's, John was still volunteering for the St Paul Foundation, and trust officers would come to his home to work with him. He told me that he was feeling active and happy.
It seems fitting that John's work, both in career and in service to the community, involved choosing how best to help others.
John's obituary in the Star Tribune is here. Please note this information about John's memorial service below.
The memorial service will be held at the Cremation Society, 7110 France Ave, Edina, MN 55435 on Saturday, September 22 at 6PM.
Our deepest condolences to John's family. He assuredly will be missed.
I can't be at his memorial this Saturday, but I can hope that all of us can aspire to channel his curiosity, integrity, and friendly mischievousness?! at the table and in life.
He helped one of my homeless clients in keeping with the wishes of one of his client's trusts and and was always interested in goings on beyond the bridge table.
I miss you John. Godspeed
Posted by: michael f cassel | September 20, 2018 at 03:24 AM