April 2021 - 35

In Memoriam
Gary Zeiger | 1953-2021
" I started playing duplicate bridge
again in 2016 after a long hiatus. I looked
Gary up online and found out he was a
full-fledged bridge TD. I got his email
from a local director and told him I was
playing again. He wrote me back: 'I was
destined to be a bridge director because
my personality defects were such that I
could surely never hold down a real job.'
Spot on, Gary.
" From that point on, we would always
get together during regionals. Gary would
hold court with me and my friends,
good-naturedly trading insults with me
and teaching us a lot about playing bridge as well. Gary
hadn't changed much. He was witty, sarcastic and superknowledgeable. Gary always aspired to be a curmudgeon,
but deep down he was a mensch.
" When I became a Life Master in 2019, I told him the
news right away. He said, 'Your achievement of Life
Master has permanently tarnished and marginalized this
bridge ranking.' He got a big laugh from me. I got what I
expected and wanted from him at that moment.
" I spoke to Gary about a month before he passed. He
deeply missed doing his job and the interaction with the
directors and players. We will all miss him. "
Zeiger's wickedly funny sense of humor endeared him
to many. Trading barbs with him was the subject of many
of the remembrances submitted by readers. For example,
Zeiger won the Tom Weeks Award for outstanding TD
professionalism in 2004, but he never won the Fred
Friendly Award for exemplary customer service. Fellow
National TD Matt Smith (now retired), who won the
honor in 2010, quipped during the award presentation,
" Thank God I won it before Zeiger! "
Dave Vidaver of Sacramento CA wrote, " I, too, enjoyed
Gary's disdain. Selling me an entry once, he inquired,
'Who are you playing with?' Playing with a beginner with
an unpronounceable name, I thought I'd save us both time
and replied, 'Nobody.' 'That makes two of you,' he commented dryly, and turned to the next player in line. "
Zeiger is survived by his wife, Mary Brazier, and their
daughter, Elyse Murphy Zeiger.
Dianne Barton-Paine

National Tournament Director Gary
Zeiger of Phoenix AZ died Jan. 19. He
was 67.
Zeiger, who was respected for his technical expertise by players and staff alike,
began directing in 1993 and became a
full-time ACBL employee in 1997. He
became the Assistant In Charge of the
Fall NABCs in 2007 and was promoted
to National Director in 2008.
Tournament Director Peter Knee of
Canyon Country CA said, " National
TD is the title that Gary truly deserved.
Even among the very best, all players
who knew Gary respected his decisions. To me, he was
mentor and good friend. He was a gourmet and a master
of music trivia. I relished the rare times when I won an
argument with him. I will miss him. "
Bob Craig, a tournament director from El Paso TX,
said, " I worked for Gary for about 20 years. When I first
worked for him and asked a question, he would say,
'Am I working with a rookie?!' Later on, when he would
start explaining something to me, I would say, 'Do you
think you're working with a rookie?' He would laugh.
One thing about Gary is that he always wanted the best
movement for the players; he did not care if it was difficult for the directors. I loved working for him because
we always had fun. "
Longtime friend Steve Carr of Belmont CA met Zeiger
in college in 1972.
" My dorm floor happened to be the epicenter of bridge
playing on campus. I quickly met Gary who, by age 19,
was a really strong player. Gary said he would help teach
me if I would root for his beloved New York Mets. Deal.
Gary taught me bridge fundamentals and played duplicate with me at local clubs. The bridge community on
campus was large enough to support frequent, large
duplicate tournaments. Gary got his start as a director
helping to run those games.
" I saw Gary (and college sweetheart-turned-wife,
Mary) socially for about 15 years after he left school.
Gary had held a number jobs that could generously be
described as off the beaten path. But then we lost touch.

April 2021 | Bridge Bulletin | 35

April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2021