Home Page

Maurice  BLANK

 

 Maurice Blank nacque nel 1929 a Manchester e scomparve prematuramente il 5 gennaio del 1984 dopo essere stato Presidente della English Bridge Union dal 1981 fino al  momento della sua morte.

 In precedenza aveva ricoperto per 6 anni la carica di Vice Presidente.

 Maurice aveva iniziato a giocare a bride superati i vent'anni ed il suo maggior trofeo da giocatore fu la vittoria della Crockford Cup nel 1965.

  Commerciante e Procuratore Legale della sua città,  fu una personalità importante della comunità ebrea.

 Sposato con Hillary avevano tre figli.

Come Presidente della EBU ha dato il meglio di sé e a dimostrazione del suo straordinario coraggio ed amore della vita, due settimane prima della sua inevitabile scomparsa, giocò un incontro della Crockford Cup vincendolo per 2IMP! 

Maurice Blank (1929 - 1984) had been Chairman of the EBU from October, 1981, until the date of his death.  Previously he had been Vice-Chairman for six years.

Maurice Blank started playing bridge in the late 1940’s.  His greatest achievement was to win Crockfords Cup in 1965.  His favourite event - the event he most wanted to win - was the Life Masters Pairs.  He never quite achieved victory in this event; his best performance being third in 1983.  During his whole bridge playing career he had only one regular partner - Monty Lipworth.

Maurice Blank was a leading member of the Jewish and commercial communities of his home City, Manchester.  He was a practising Solicitor, but always regarded himself more as a man of commerce than a lawyer.  His interests extended well beyond bridge.  He had a passion for and deep knowledge of opera.  He had an equal knowledge and appreciation of good food and wine.  Indeed he was a fully rounded man with an enormous zest for life.

For five of the six years he was Vice-Chairman, Maurice Blank was also Chairman of the Tournament Committee.  During this time he presided over the substantial increase in the Union's tournament calendar.  But his greatest contribution to the Union was during his period of Chairmanship.  He brought to this post charm, tact and quiet authority.  Under his influence the Union’s officials and Committee members worked as a happy, cohesive team.

It is an indication of his courage that less than four weeks before his death - and knowing the seriousness of his illness - he played throughout in a Crockfords Cup match against strong local opposition.  That he won that match by 2 IMP gave him the greatest possible pleasure.

  Indice / Index

Precedente / Previous

Successivo / Next