January 2024 - 32

CLUB News
Mabel Atkinson
By Lisa Lobo
If every day is a gift, then Mabel
Atkinson has 38,351 gifts - and
counting. Born on Armistice Day
1918 in Pittsburgh PA, Mabel raised
two daughters, Carol and Margaret,
while finishing her nursing degree
in Harlem. After retiring in 1983,
Mabel started playing bridge. She is
one of the oldest active members of
the ACBL, still playing once or twice
per week at The Bridge Deck in White
Plains NY. Mabel is an avid reader
who sometimes reads three or four
books at a time and is in an active
book club that meets regularly. Mabel
also plays poker twice a week at the
local senior center and enjoys an occasional
outing to the local casino.
Being a very spiritual person,
Mabel attends church service every
Sunday when possible. Mabel lost her
husband, Teddy, who got her to be the
ardent New York Jets fan that she is.
They were at the Super Bowl game
in Miami in 1969 when the Jets won
with Joe Namath as quarterback. She
Jackie McElhaney
By Linda Harrison
When Jackie McElhaney, a retired
flight attendant, and her husband, Joe,
moved from the Dallas area to Lake
Cypress Springs, Jackie met a friendly
simply will not
budge when
there is a Jets
game on TV -
she remembers
game stats and
details that
most people
find amazing.
Mabel is
a very kind,
intelligent,
gentle soul and
follows her
motto to " not allow anyone or anything
beyond her control bother her. "
Besides that, she credits her family
lineage for her longevity and lives a
very simple, uncomplicated life in her
own apartment and has a lot of family
and friends close by. She is blessed
with her two loving married daughters,
three grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
To have the privilege of knowing
Mabel Atkinson
celebrates her 105th
birthday.
Mabel Atkinson is truly an honor
which is a sentiment shared by all
those who meet her. 2
neighbor in her 80s named Peaches
who was an avid bridge player. Peaches
introduced Jackie to her daughter,
Dottie Miller. Jackie and Dottie soon
became friends and were interested in
playing duplicate. After lessons from
Sandy Lansing, Linda Harrison
and Heather Sanders,
they were soon playing in
ACBL-sanctioned games in
Pittsburg TX and ready to
play in ACBL tournaments.
They both became Life Masters
in 2022.
Jackie served as a flight
Jackie McElhaney stands next to the signed flag she
gifted to the American Legion. With her are (from left):
Bobby Baker, District Adjutant; Andy Lowe, First District
Commander; Don Sides, Post 422 Chaplin; Bob
Dickinson, Post 422 Vice Commander; and Frank
Harrison, Post 422 Commander.
32 | Bridge Bulletin | January 2024
attendant on military flights
during the Gulf War when
American Airlines used their
planes to transport military
personnel to and from
the war zone. Jackie often
carried a large American flag
Hope Lorch
By Penny Grassedonio | Manager,
Lake Conroe Duplicate Bridge Club
Hope Lorch
celebrated her
97th birthday at
the Lake Conroe
Duplicate Bridge
Club in Montgomery
TX. Born
Sept. 12, 1926,
Hope grew up in
Advance MS. It
was there in her
first-grade class
that she met the
love of her life,
Lou. They continued
as friends throughout their
school years. Hope was a cheerleader,
and Lou played basketball in high
school, and the romance blossomed.
However, upon graduation, Lou left
for the Navy. When he returned in
1946, he came back to Hope, and
they were married in 1947. Hope and
Lou have a son and a daughter, three
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
They became avid golfers
and both coached champion high
school teams. They retired to April
Sound Community in Montgomery
in 1987, where they continued to play
golf and Hope found a love for playing
bridge. Being the competitor that she
is, she was soon mastering the game.
We all wish Hope many more happy
celebrations! 2
Hope Lorch celebrates
her birthday.
with her and had the military men
and women sign the flag. Jackie said
that it was difficult because she realized
that some of these soldiers may
be killed in combat and others may be
wounded.
Jackie gave the flag to American
Legion Post 422 Commander Frank
Harrison. The Post had it framed and
hung on the wall at the Legion and
presented Jackie with a plaque of
appreciation. 2
January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2024
