January 2022 - 73

Robert " Jeff " Alexander | 1939-2021
Jeff Alexander - a Platinum Life Master and retired
Associate National Tournament Director - died Aug. 12.
A resident of Mentor OH, Alexander was 82.
For more than 25 years, Alexander was an ACBL tournament
director, and his talent propelled him to the rank
of Associate National TD, the second-highest recognized
by the ACBL. According to Alexander's wife Stephanie, it
was the perfect job for Jeff, allowing him to combine his
avocation with his vocation.
" Jeff was so talented at bridge. He was very intelligent
and had a terrific sense of humor; he had a great mind for
the game and its rules. Jeff studied mathematics, including
statistics, in college. But while working on his master's
degree as a young man, he fell in love with the game
and devoted himself full time to playing and then directing, "
she said.
Alexander has an unusual legacy: " Jeffrey charts. " Most
players recognize the large scoreboards
that are used in Swiss team
events for showing round-byround
victory point totals for each
squad in the contest, but many are
unaware that the devices were
dubbed Jeffrey charts in honor of
Alexander who popularized their
early use. They are now a tournament
staple.
Alexander retired from directing
in 2013.
A skilled player, Alexander earned more than 12,000
masterpoints during his career. During the past two
years, he played exclusively online to minimize his exposure
to COVID.
" He enthusiastically played the game, even online, playing
several sessions each day, " said Stephanie.
Susan Picus | 1948-2021
Sue Picus, a multiple world and national champion, died
Nov. 18. The longtime resident of New York City was 73.
Picus won the Freeman Mixed Board-a-Match Teams
in 1971 and 2000, the Wagar Women's Knockout Teams
in 1972 and 1991, the Machlin Women's Swiss Teams in
1986, 2002 and 2005, the Marsha May Sternberg Women's
Board-a-Match Teams in 1997 and 2004, and the
Smith Life Master Women's Pairs in 2009.
Picus had nine second-place finishes in NABC+ events.
In world-level competitions, Picus earned the title of
World Grand Master. Representing the United States, she
was a member of the winning Venice Cup squad in 1991,
1993 and 2003, and the McConnell Cup team in 1994.
Picus also earned a silver medal in the 1995 Venice Cup.
Additionally, Picus twice served as non-playing captain of
the victorious U.S. women's squad in the Venice Cup, and
once as npc of the bronze-medal U.S. women's team.
Picus had several successful, long-term partnerships
with fellow experts Sharon Osberg, Rozanne Pollack, Jill
Levin, Judi Radin, Gail Greenberg, and Picus's husband,
Barry Rigal.
In addition to her playing skill, Picus was widely admired
for her pleasant and calm demeanor.
Ryerson Schwark of West Linn OR wrote, " I was lucky
enough to be Sue's colleague at Unix System Labs. We had
a lunchtime bridge group of complete novices. I remember
she walked by and stopped to watch us once while I
was declaring a hand. I completely
butchered it by not planning my play
properly. I burned my dummy entry
prematurely and went down, as novices
do. She just smiled. That smile
encouraged me to do better. She was
always willing to give advice.
" We played our first duplicate in a
small club in New Jersey not far from
our Summit office, encouraged by her.
She was our inspiration for the game,
and we paid close attention to her
first Venice Cup run, sending her faxes,
cheering her and the team on. We were delighted for
her and the team when she won, and we all came to congratulate
her when she returned and to see her medals.
A busy career made me leave bridge for many years, but
she remained my bridge idol, and I followed her successes
with delight. She was a superb human being. "
In her professional career, Picus worked at Bell Labs
near Chicago before transferring to the New Jersey
location. There, she became director of development for
the Unix C language compiler and related software for
Unix System Laboratory (USL), a spinoff of Bell Labs. Her
work for USL included an assignment at a location near
London, as well. Sometime after USL was purchased by
Novell, Picus left to work for Bear Sterns in information
technology.
January 2022 | Bridge Bulletin |
73
January 2022

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