July 2019 - 73

Bruce Noda 1948-2019
By Warren Cederborg

Grand Life Master Bruce Noda of Corte
Madera CA died in May. He was 71.
Noda was a three-time NABC champion. He won the Truscott/USPC Senior
Swiss Teams in 2004 and 2018 and the Leventritt Silver Ribbon Pairs in 2015. Noda
was second in the Baze Senior KO Teams
in 2004.
Over the years, the game of bridge
eventually becomes secondary to the friendships we develop.
In hearing of Bruce Noda's death, any thoughts of competition
suddenly became meaningless. Bruce embodied the qualities
of gentleness, honesty and genuine goodness, while constantly
demonstrating a fierce ability to play the game of bridge at the
highest level.
Bill Harker, a close friend and partner, summed it up by saying, "Bruce was the best human being I've ever known."
Close friend and regular partner Mark Ralph said he and
Bruce formed a partnership in 2007. "We played together and
roomed together at 35 nationals."
In the course of winning two NABCs with Bruce, Ralph said,
"Bruce was a dream partner and teammate. He simply never
- no matter how poorly I played - got angry or upset. He was
always the 'adult' at the bridge table."
Mark said Bruce followed the rules both at bridge and life.
"I remember walking with him up to an intersection where the
light had just turned red. There were no cars in sight and I
started walking. About halfway across I noticed that Bruce was
still standing at the intersection. Once he caught up to me, I
could tell he was angry about something. He then asked me if I
had seen the two children standing at the intersection with their
mom. Yes, I said. He then excoriated me for setting a bad example. Since Bruce never got mad, this made a big impression
on me. Don't misunderstand, I continue to jaywalk, maybe even
with children present, but whenever I do I still feel Bruce's eyes
on the back of my neck."
Gene Simpson said, "Bruce was not only a fine bridge player,
but a wonderful bridge partner. He never complained, never
seemed disappointed. I don't know of anyone I'm going to miss
more in the bridge world, and in life. He had friends all over the
country. It's just amazing."
As with all of his friends, Crisp Barrere was shocked when he
heard that Bruce had died. "I thought he was one of the healthiest people around. That underscores what a private person he
was, doing what he wanted on his terms."
Barrere said Bruce's passing dealt a huge blow to an organization that served mankind. "He was board chairman of Blue
Energy, an organization that put water systems in developing
countries.
Bruce was very thoughtful in all he did - one of the real gentlemen of the game."

Col. Dewitt H. Hudson Jr. 1934-2019
By the family of Dewitt Hudson

Col. Dewitt Hudson of Arlington TX
died Apr. 7 with spouse Elizabeth by his
side. Hudson, a Gold Life Master, was 84.
After retiring from the U.S. Army in
1982, Dewitt's life revolved around bridge.
He was president of District 16 (which includes most of Texas and Mexico) for three
terms, and a member of the ACBL Board
of Governors from 1999 to 2018.
In 2007, Dewitt received the Oswald and James Jacoby
Service Award, designed to honor those volunteers who have
worked diligently at the unit level and risen to recognition at
the district level after many years of outstanding service. It is
District 16's premier service award.
Dewitt was laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
Dewitt is survived by wife Elizabeth and sons Tony and Eric.

Judith Lichter 1951-2019
By the family of Judith Lichter

Judy Lichter, 67, of Sparta WI, passed
away May 15 at her home. Born in Racine
WI to Nicholas and Kathleen (Hayes)
Lichter, Judy grew up in the Kenosha area
and graduated from Salem Central High
School. She then moved to Colorado to ski
and settled in Georgetown where she subsequently received her bachelor's degree in
computer and management science from Metropolitan State
College in Denver. Judy worked for Computer Associates as
a National Director and subsequently moved to Santa Monica
where she earned her master's degree from Loyola Marymount
University and managed the Beverly Hills Bridge Club before
retiring in Sparta. Judy was a Sparta schools substitute teacher
and a member and volunteer for St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
She also volunteered for the Monroe County Humane Society,
the National Migratory Bird Count, Sparta Community Choir,
and Sparta Community dinners. Judy was the owner and operator of the Yarn Stash LLC knitting shop, teaching many people
the joy of knitting. She enjoyed playing duplicate bridge and
achieved the rank of Silver Life Master.
Survivors include her four siblings: Lisa (Craig) Zimmerman of Onalaska WI; Nick (Margaret) Lichter of La Crosse
WI; Mary (Nick) Breunig of Town of Buffalo WI, Mike (Debi)
Lichter of Talkeetna AK; her brother-in-law Tim Montee of
Sturgeon Bay MI, and many nieces and nephews of whom
she was very close: Joseph (godchild), Jennifer, Maria, Patrick,
Mike, Lindsey, Margaret, Erik, Rachel (godchild), MurphyKate
(godchild), Nicholas, Harold, Jennifer, Kimberly; great-nieces
and nephews: Maddy, Evelyn, Gabriel, Ethan; and her beloved
dachshund, Victor.
July 2019 Bridge Bulletin

July 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2019