COVID Devastates our Club
Submitted by Connie Nelson
COVID-19 slammed our St Cloud Bridge Club hard in November. We lost a beloved member – John Melancon. We were not prepared to lose him. John was a gentle giant. Standing over 6’3”, he might have seemed intimidating until you looked up into his warm, twinkling eyes.
In September, John tested positive, but we weren’t overly concerned at first. When Roger Melaas asked if he had any underlying conditions, John answered, “No. Just being in my 70’s.” On September 30th, we learned the devastating news that John was in the ICU. John fought - coming off and back on a ventilator. After being hospitalized over 40 days, he died.
Herman Wittsack was in the hospital with COVID himself when he heard the news. Herman recalls: “I just cried. John and his wife Nancy are extremely close friends. We would go on Princess cruises together. Many from the St Cloud Bridge Club attended their wedding.”
Grief poured out from Club members:
- Nancy Balfanz: It’s hard to believe this has happened. Such a big, tall, strong man ravaged by COVID.
- Chandra Prakash: John will be missed dearly. He will always remain in our hearts.
- Bobbie Eich: John was so kind, funny and a great bridge player.
- David Warne: I will miss John greatly. Always a gentleman at the table.
- Scott Krupke: I always loved when Mark and I would show up for bridge and he’d say “Here comes the Little Falls mafia!”
- Amy Roske: Such a soft-spoken Man with a Giant heart!
- Rhonda Rossman: John’s presence at the table was so kind and helpful. Fly high John!
- Lois Head: John was so sensitive to others throughout his too-short life.
- Wayne Reynolds: I will miss John so much. He was a good friend and a favorite partner.
- Saundy Fedor: John was a gentle and kind soul, always giving positive hints as to the play of the hand.
- Roger Knauss: John reminded me of a Teddy Bear- soft, lovable, but a fierce competitor.
- Shannon Quinlivan: We will all miss his smiling face and wonderful sense of humor, not to mention his ability at the card table.
Here are three headlines re: John’s ability at the table –
John’s first ever ACBL Master Point was Gold.
Roger Melaas: John and I played together for the first time at a Worldwide Club game. We had a 60% game, top of the field. John turned to me with a smile and said, “I thought you said this game was hard!” The next time he and I were partners, we had a 31% game - dead last. I smiled and said, “Welcome to the humbling world of bridge.”
John and Herman set Life Master goals.
Herman Wittsack – My wife Mary and I love to take cruises. On one cruise, we won a 64-team
bridge tourney. The cruise director said I should join ACBL. I contacted the Minneapolis club
and asked for an introduction to someone in St Cloud. Ultimately, I began playing with John
Melancon. I was 70 years old, and had never played duplicate bridge in my life. After a bit,
John said to me, “Herman – Do you want to make Life Master?” I said yes. So John said,
“Here’s the deal. You are going to make Life Master by the age of 75, and I am going to make
Life Master by the age of 65.” We set out to do so. Roger Melaas, Kory Solarz, Al Leighton, Ken
Voigt, John and I started going to tournaments. My first was at Lake Geneva. John and I played
in a pair event and got 37%! Discouraged, we signed up for a second event and ‘won that
sucker’ with a 77% game. My first Gold points. We traveled to Omaha where we met Bill Gates
and Warren Buffet; to the Dakotas; to Duluth. I made Life Master at the age of 74. John was 64.
John’s kind ways at - and away from - the Table.
Rhonda Rossman: John once subbed as my mentor. The lesson was on No Trump bidding. We
learned that if your partner opened 1NT and you had 16-17 points, you should bid 4NT – a slam
try. Wouldn’t you know on the very first hand of play, John bid 1NT, I bid 4NT. He went six. I
played the hand and made it! He mentioned it every time we met up after that.
Wendy Hennes: When the weather was rough during the winter, John would pick up Gloria
Mize and me to make sure we made it to play bridge at the Club. He would tell us stories about
his and Nancy’s travels as we rode along. He made sure we got door to door service.
Lynn Schnettler: I met John when our sons were in 9th grade. They are now 35! I learned that
this friend’s parents played bridge and asked them over. After his first wife died, we met his
second wife Nancy who we all love. For many years, we played with John in a Sunday night
potluck bridge group. The partnerships consisted of John and BJ Backes, Al and Jean Leighton,
Sandy and Bob Johnson, and Bill and me. John often brought dessert thanks to his wife Nancy! I
Kathy Stadther: When my husband Tom died, and I couldn’t play bridge or go anywhere really,
John called me and spoke so comfortingly. He encouraged me to go to “New
Beginnings” when I was ready, saying that’s where he met Nancy some years after losing his
first wife. I will so tenderly remember John.
Our Club sends peace and comfort to his family and all who knew him. Rest In Peace!
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