American Contract Bridge League

Profile

Mary Bishop

By Patty Duggan

(Published February 2007)

I interviewed Mary Bishop on the eve of her 76^th birthday, and I came away awed and impressed with the life she has led. Mary was born in the small town of Hearne, Texas. Her family moved to another small town, Navasota, when she was 4 years old. Mary attended elementary school and high school there. She went on to college at the University of Texas, interrupting her education to marry Jerry Bishop in 1951. When the Bishops’ first child, David, was a year old, Jerry was stationed with the U.S. army in Korea. Mary moved in with her mother, and it was at that time that Mary gained her love for bridge. She and her mother got a book by Culbertson and learned to play. After Mary’s husband returned from Korea, she and her husband played bridge socially.

Mary and Jerry and family settled on Long Island, New York, where Jerry worked as science editor for The Wall Street Journal. Three more babies were added to the family. In her 30’s, Mary had a bout with breast cancer that led her to reevaluate her life. She beat the cancer and went back to college at the University of Staten Island, earning her B.A. in 1972, and her M.S. in 1974. She taught learning-disabled children in elementary and junior high schools for the next twenty years. Newly single, Mary began to follow her dreams of traveling to exotic places during her summer vacations. She made many trips to the Caribbean where she earned her credentials in scuba diving. She learned to downhill ski. She took walking tours in Spain and Madeira, and she visited Italy, France, and Holland, among other countries. She toured on her own, or with a friend.

In 1993, Mary relocated to the Rogue Valley. Three of her grown children live in California and one, Josephine, still lives in Long Island. Mary visits her children and their families in their homes, and they visit here occasionally. David is a photographer, and his wife, Jan is a school teacher. Michelle lives in Santa Rosa, California, and is a full professor at Santa Rosa Junior College. Jonathon is a computer scientist and his wife, Kelly, is an architect. Mary has five grandchildren, of whom she is very proud. The eldest granddaughter will be attending college this fall.

Mary discovered duplicate bridge and became serious about improving her skills after she retired. She took lessons from Phil Selby, Don Provence and Bernadine Lacy, and she joined the ACBL. Mary insists that winning points are not her goal; she enjoys the social aspects of the game most of all. However, since she started duplicate, Mary has earned over 235 points, of which 5 are gold. One of the most exciting days of her life, she says, was winning the gold at a Seaside tournament with Sandy Oliveras as her partner.

Mary has not given up on her wanderlust. She has made two trips to China since moving to the Rogue Valley, and she has taken cruises and trips to Alaska. On one recent fishing trip to Alaska, she drove the many miles by herself, camping along the way. Mary has also been an active volunteer in our community. She worked in the Tudor Guild for five year and as a volunteer for the Ashland Police Department. Presently, she helps out with ushering at the Cabaret Theater. Another job she has taken on is secretary for our Unit Board. Mary has some experience with working on boards as she previously held a position on the Ashland board. When she is not playing bridge or planning another exciting trip, Mary reads, plays with her two cats and dreams about getting back to the game of golf after she has some surgery on her wrists.

We thank Mary for her valuable service as secretary on our Unit board and for reminding us "to play for the joy of the game of bridge" as well as for the challenge to win points.