September 2009 - 25

Hall of Fame

job entailed. Since she took over in
1985, the Goodwill Committee has
promoted many worthwhile programs, including help for the hearing
impaired, active ethics and the annual
naming of a Goodwill member of the
year.
"Although she isn't the best player,"
Alan said, "she has done as much for
the game as anyone."
When she got to the microphone,
Aileen said her years of involvement
with the ACBL "have been a joy
and a privilege. To play with, work
with, laugh with and simply to know
the people in this room have been a
blessing. Now I know that my talent
can be applauding the good talent of
others."
2009 Blackwood Award winner
Aileen Osofsky with her son, Alan.

Sally, his wife and a major supporter
in the pursuit of his dream career.
"Sally," Lair said, "is the love my life
and my very best friend."

Aileen Osofsky
Another inductee with a huge gathering of family was Osofsky, whose
son, Alan, was her presenter. The occasion was especially noteworthy for
the family, Alan said, because Mike
Osofsky, his father, was celebrating
his 85th birthday.
Alan said he first heard about
bridge when his mother would come
home from the club and say that she
had had "a high at bridge today."
Imagine, he said, the ideas that
entered the head of a child of the Sixties: "Play bridge and get high!"
Another memory of his mother, he
noted more seriously, was her consideration and love for a partner who
was ailing. No matter what happened
at the table, he said, his mother was
kind.
Two attributes he admired, Alan
said, were his mother's "fierce loyalty
to friends and her selflessness."
Alan said he was amused to learn
that when his mother was informed
that she had been appointed Goodwill
chair, she didn't even know what the
September 2009

Peter Boyd
Zia Mahmood, a member of the
selection committee for the sportsmanship award, said it is meant to pay
tribute to players who play the game
with more than just technical skill.
"This year," Zia said, "the choice
was easy. Peter Boyd has never had a
bad word spoken against him."
Steve Robinson, Boyd's partner
since 1980, said Boyd has been a
model of decorum for as long as they
have played together. "He is always
trying to win," Robinson said, "but he
doesn't want to win unfairly."
Always courteous to the opponents,

Robinson said, Boyd also is always
on an even keel no matter what happens - even on the occasion when
Robinson tore his bridge hand to
pieces in frustration about playing in
a 4-0 trump fit, and threw them at his
partner.
Robinson also noted that Boyd
has served the Washington Bridge
League in many capacities and has
won the WBL sportsman of the year
award.
Boyd thanked Zia and Lew Stansby,
the other selector for the sportsmanship award, and several prior partners
before Robinson.
"Some people think this an endurance award for tolerating Stevie all
these years," Boyd said of his longtime partner. "It's not true, and he's a
good sport in his own right."

Agnes Gordon
Dan Gerstman was the presenter for
Gordon at the Hall of Fame ceremonies. Gordon died in 1967, before the
Hall of Fame was created.
The von Zedtwitz Award is meant
to honor players who would have
been elected in their time but are not
well known now.
Gerstman said Gordon was "the
greatest player in the history of western New York." Although she died
before he started playing, Gerstman

remembers hearing better players

Sportsman of the Year winner Peter Boyd with longtime partner Steve Robinson.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2009
