Profile
Dorothy Purcell
(September 2006)
By Pattie Dugan
Though
Dorothy and Mack Purcell have lived in the Rogue Valley for only three and a
half years, they have managed to endear themselves to our membership with their
friendliness and cheerful willingness to do whatever is needed to make our
bridge games and tournaments fun. Dorothy is a new Unit Board member and she has
accepted the role of vice president. "I have filled in for Bill Sipfle a couple
of times," she says. "I know how to run a meeting; I had experience as president
of the PTA at our children’s school when they were young." Dorothy is thrilled
with the cooperation of all the members of the Unit Board. In fact, she is
enthusiastic about all our membership. She and Mack have made many friends and
enjoy the competitive but friendly games at our clubs. Dorothy is one of the
generous ladies who bring delicious snacks to our "noshable" buffets at the
clubs and tournaments.
Dorothy was born in Chicago, and grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee. She and
her family played many card games but never bridge. When Dorothy was a junior in
high school, she and her best friend decided to teach themselves bridge to
prepare for college. Dorothy went to the University of Wisconsin, at Madison,
where she majored in English (and played a little bridge on the side). She
graduated with a degree in English Education and worked in retail before moving
to California. She met and married Mack in 1955. Five children soon followed and
Dorothy was a full-time mother until the last child was in school. Subsequently,
and until 2003, Dorothy worked as an elementary substitute-teacher, aide in a
Title 10 educational program, and then at several Wells Fargo Banks as a
secretary and teller. The family relocated several times to cities up and down
the West Coast and Nevada when Mack transferred in his insurance business.
The Purcells played Duplicate for the first time in Washington, immediately
fell in love with the game, and joined the ACBL in 1979. They just passed their
1000 Master Point milestone. Dorothy remarked that, "Bridge is a very exciting
and unpredictable game. We have played in tournaments where we came in last in
the first session and won overall in the second. So many factors besides skill
determine who wins."
One of the reasons Dorothy and Mack retired to their spacious home in Eagle
Point was the many opportunities to play bridge in our Valley. The other reasons
were good medical facilities, affordable living places, moderate climate, and
living equidistant from their five children and their families. Daughter Jane
lives in Washington, sons Bruce, Jim and Douglas live in southern California and
Ann lives in Henderson, Nevada. Dorothy and Mack visit each family about twice
per year, playing in bridge tournaments on the way. They are proud of their
eleven grandchildren and won’t hesitate to brag if asked about them. Their other
love is their eight-year-old black Labrador, Katie. They rescued Katie in Las
Vegas when she was three years old; she had been abandoned. Katie waits in the
car, when the weather is nice, while the Purcells play bridge. Reading books of
all kinds is a pastime Dorothy enjoys. She recently read a fascinating account
of the Mayflower crossing the Atlantic to America.
We extend our thanks to Dorothy and husband Mack for their delightful
presence at our clubs and for their service to our organization.
