Lisa Berkowitz, 50, is a full-time mother and homemaker and former CPA for a "Big 8" firm. Lisa is a Women's World Champion and has 14 national titles. She is married to David who claims, "I'm not even the best bridge player in my own house." One thing is for certain. Lisa has a bright smile on her face. She and David have two children, Dana 17, and Michael, 15.

Bart Bramley, 54, stock options trader, is relocating to Dallas with SCA. He is a frequent contributer to The Bridge World. He has represented the ACBL in world competition and placed in a number of world championships. He was ACBL Player of the Year for 1997 and holds 10 national championship titles. Sidney Lazard, Bramley's partner, describes him thusly, "Bart is a marvelous player. He is very hardworking, cautious and brilliant. He's as good as they get."

Mildred Breed, 55, was taught to play bridge by her father, James Boyce, when she was 15. She went on to a career as a purchasing agent for a steel fabricator but never lost her love of the game. Breed won her first of ten national championships in 1980 and now has two gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in world championship play. When asked about her best bridge memory, she replied, "What can be better than winning a gold medal?" Enough said. When not competing at the bridge table, Breed teaches the game on the Internet. She has two children, ages 30 and 14.

Mike Cappelletti, 37, has been attending bridge tournaments his whole life. Both of his parents are accomplished bridge players and active tournament players. Young Mike at first caddied, but quickly decided playing was more fun. Mike won his first regional tournament in 1979 at age 14. Active in junior bridge, he became a Life Master just prior to his 16th birthday. Cappelletti, one of a small group of players who won 10,000 masterpoints at a young age, made Grand Life Master at age 33. He now holds three national titles and about 16,000 masterpoints.

Shannon Cappelletti, 31, formerly Shannon Lipscomb, won the Junior Player of the Year award for 1995 becoming the second woman to win this award. She now holds a national title and is one of the most popular players on the tournament circuit. Her husband, Mike Jr., says "Shannon has a natural feel for the game and won't be intimidated by anybody. That's a good combination."

Geoff Hampson, 34, originally from Toronto, Canada, is a bridge professional. He was the Junior Player of the Year for 1992 and 1994. In 2001 he won his first World title -- Transnational Teams. He has five national titles, numerous regional wins and over 16,000 masterpoints. Hampson's partner for many of these wins is Eric Grecco, another former junior player.

Dan Morse, 64, is a pharmacist by profession and a bridge player and bridge administrator at all other times. He is on the ACBL Board of Directors representing District 16, he is the ACBL representative to the World Bridge Federation Executive Council and is on the Board of Directors for the United States Bridge Federation. Morse has four world championship titles, one as a player and three as NPC. He also coached a winning women's team. He was the honorary ACBL member of the year in 1989, holds nine national championships and over 14,000 masterpoints.

Bruce Reeve, 56, is a bridge teacher and professional player. He is a member of ACBL Board of Directors representing District 7 and a trustee of the Educational Foundation. He has served in many positions in his Unit, District and Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference and has won many Regionals. Reeve is sought after as a lecturer at newcomer programs at nationals and regionals.

Steve Robinson, 61, is a retired computer specialist and is currently a full time bridge professional. He holds three world championship titles, 18 national titles and more than 28,000 masterpoints which ranks him 9th in the ACBL. Robinson is very active in bridge administration having held positions in his Unit for over 26 years, District 6 about 14 years and the ACBL Board of Governors 23 years. He is the co-inventor of CRASH convention and the author of Washington Standard. He is married to Linda and they have one child, Sarah, a graduate of Cornell University.

 

Jeff Roman, 45, bond trader turned bridge professional four years ago. He grew up in a bridge playing family -- his mother is a Tournament Director -- and won his first regional at age 16. He has won countless regionals since then. After turning to bridge full-time, he has ranked in the top 25 of the annual Crane Top 500. Roman has served as coach at Junior Camp and is a popular lecturer at newcomer programs at nationals and regionals. His proudest accomplishment at the bridge table came in 1999 when his squad of junior players made it to the round of 8 of the Vanderbilt.

Ivar Stakgold, 77, was born in Norway. He is Professor emeritus at University of Delaware, former chairman of mathematics department. He has represented the United States in world competition and holds six national championships.

When most kids were watching cartoons, Ron Smith spent Saturday mornings glued to a television show about bridge hosted by the late Charles Goren. His first experience at competitive bridge was less than successful, scoring less than 12 percent in a game where a 60 percent or more score generally is required to win. He since has gone on to win six national championships and now plays professionally. One of his national championship teams became a symbol for the inclusive nature of the game, with Smith, an African-American Christian, playing with teammates who were Jewish, Muslim and Hindu. Smith grew up in St. Louis, lived in Chicago as an options trader and now runs a hedge fund. When not working in finance or bridge, he's in his electronic music studio, where he has produced dance and rhythm and blues CDs.

Adam Wildavsky, 42, is an independent computer consultant. A student of Objectivism, believes the philosophy of Ayn Rand is superb for bridge players and that it produces positive results at the table. He is a regular contributor to The Bridge Bulletin and Bridge Today. Wildavsky has two national titles, many regional wins and was Greater New York Team Player of the Year for 2000.

Kit Woolsey, 59, is a systems analyst. He is the author of Modern Defensive Signals, Partnership Defense in Bridge, Matchpoints, and co-author of Clobber Their Artificial Club. Woolsey holds two world championship titles and 11 national titles. He is a Grand Life Master with more than 18,000 masterpoints.