After more than 60 years, the Niles-Buchanan YMCA Duplicated Bridge Club has dissolved. The club was organized by lifelong resident of Niles, Ross Linsenmier, who learned duplicate bridge while he was member of the U.S. Army and a prisoner of war by the Germans.

Upon his return home after World War II, Linsenmier approached authorities at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA and asked if they might be interested in allowing him to teach classes and form a duplicate bridge club. The YMCA officials thought it was a great idea and agreed to sponsor it.

Members of several contract bridge clubs in Niles joined the group and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA duplicate bridge club was born, beginning in the late 1940s.

Meetings were originally held each Wednesday afternoon and were well attended by enthusiastic members. At that time, the Niles-Buchanan YMCA Club was semi-affiliated with the South Bend Duplicate Club and many from South Bend were regular attendees. Soon there was enough interest and an additional weekly game was added on Monday evenings.

Louis Tickfer has been the club director since 1992.

The club continued on this schedule ever since. In May 1971, members of the club decided to hold the first all-day tournament, including lunch provided by club members.
The fees charged for participation in this tournament were used to make a donation to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA’s youth programs. In 2009, the 39th annual all-day tournament was held. Total funds donated to the YMCA from these 39 tournaments were $31,964.
Sadly, during 2009 the club’s membership dropped due to several members’ deaths and disabilities. Therefore it has not been possible to assemble enough players to hold a certified game to earn master points from the ACBL. Because of this, it has become necessary to dissolve the club.

The South Bend Bridge Center is open to all area players and several players from Niles are attending there.

“We regret the loss of the glorious activity and greatly appreciate the cooperation and support provided by the Niles-Buchanan YMCA in making it possible for us to offer duplicate bridge to the community,” the YMCA stated in a release.