GENNY RICE PARTY PHOTOS

From Ann Van Ryn's estate, May 26, 2021.

A CHAT WITH GENNY RICE

Q (Matt): Ok, well, Greg [Caucutt, Genny's long-time partner] gave me a set of questions to chat with you about, I guess because we should get to know the real Genny Rice. You know, whenever we see you at the club in person, or at a party like this, you're just so, well, you're just so stoic (laughter) - and never smiling or showing any personality (laughter) - so let's chat about a few things so everyone will know a bit more about you as our newest Diamond Life Master. Everyone has a story how that started to play bridge – what prompted you to say, “I’m going to learn that game?”

A (Genny): You know, I had four brothers and we used to play blackjack and “500” and there was always a card in there that gave you the points you could play in bridge. But I didn’t know anyone that played bridge until I went to the “U”. And fortunately, bridge lasted longer than I did at the “U” (laughter). But that’s when I first played a little bit, I subbed in bridge clubs and we moved to Fairmont and they played for a 50th of a cent for a point. I was on a tight budget, and I couldn’t afford to lose so I worked on my game! Then we moved to Rochester and I subbed at this club, and a woman who played said “I had 16 points but I had no five card suit, so I didn’t open”, and I thought to myself “I’m never coming back to this club.” (Laughter)

Then someone invited me down to bridge, and the next week I talked my husband into coming down. This was before zero tolerance, and believe me, they were not friendly. They really weren’t. I talked my husband into going down there and we played, and when we left he said “I’m never going back there – those people are really rude!” And I said “well I don’t know – I might go back, I want to get better so I can beat them.” And I did.

Q: Back when you started to play duplicate bridge, the results were posted in the the local Rochester newspaper. But then the posted results in the Post Bulletin stopped abruptly! What do you know about that?

A: Yes.  Well, I called the P-B and I said “when I win, you put ‘Mrs. John Rice’ in the results, and my husband doesn’t play. He wasn’t the winner. He has nothing to do with it. My name is Genny Rice. And that’s how I want you to put it in that way.” And that’s when they stopped posting the results. (Laughter)

Q: Did you become an ACBL member right away?

A: Yes I did – I wanted the magazine – I thought there were things I could learn.

Q: Any early success stories?

A: Actually, with team games we used to go to the Cities and different places to play, and the IBMers sometimes got sent on trips, so we’d have a five man team. And one time I was asked to join this team that was four BIG men, because I was the only one that could fit in the car. (Laughter) It had nothing to do with my skills.

Q: Of course you can’t get to 5,000 masterpoints without getting to 500 first. How was it becoming a LM?

A: The summer nationals were held in Minneapolis one year, and I drove back and forth, and you had to have 25 red points [to become a Life Master] back then (no gold, it was really easier back then) – and I got 23 red points in that tournament and I didn’t even know what they were!

Q: Any other tournament stories?

A: Well, Steve and Jean are here, and we got lots of team points playing with them – and about 2/3rds of my points were playing with Greg.

Q: Greg couldn’t be here today, but if he was here, what would you like to say to him in front of everyone here?

A: Ask [Greg's wife] Amy!

Q: Well, she doesn’t play that much bridge with him.

A: No, but she puts up with him! (Laughter) [Amy's head is in her hands at this point.]

Q: Okay, that’s all I need on that one. (Laughter) Generally, when bridge players get to 5,000 points, most of them get to 5,000 well before their 90s. So whether you like it or not, you’re really an inspiration to the rest of us. It's pretty remarkable that you have achieved this level of bridge at your age. Most of us are hoping to get to live into our 90s, and if we DO get to live to get to be in our 90s, we REALLY hope that we have the mental acuity that you have. . .to play this game and still play it so well. Any advice for the rest of us?

A: Ask Renee, she’s here, she's my daughter. I take eight vitamin pills, Tipva, and collagen. Plus cannabis twice a day. (Laughter)

Q: Well this is why we’re asking you questions – are you the smiling happy Genny Rice we know at the table? Or the smiling happy Genny Rice with pot brownies in her freezer? (Laughter) When was your first bridge game?

A: At the “U” in 1946. My first duplicate game started in 1966 or 1967. But I only played twice a month for awhile.

(Renee, Genny's daughter): When we grew up, there was a wall phone in the kitchen, and my Mom would sit there on the chair – and talk about all the hands they played the night before. There were two times you didn’t bother my mother, one was when she was sleeping and one was when she was talking about bridge hands. (Laughter)

(Genny): And I was a better sleeper than I was a bridge player. (Laughter)

(Matt): Well, we’re really happy for you and we’re all REALLY glad that you finally got to the 5,000 mark, because, of course, now we at least have a chance for a game with Greg (laughter). Congratulations!

(Genny): Thank you. And thank you to everyone that gave me a card at this party and my other party.