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Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Marathon Woman: Noemi Anderson, 101, has earned more than 500 "master points" in her 60 years of playing bridge.
Centenarian going strong after six decades of play
By Jessica Lyons
One-hundred-and-one-year-old Noemi Anderson wakes up early every Monday and Wednesday morning. A little before 10 a.m., her daughter comes over, and the two drive to Kirk Senior Center in Willow Glen. Then, for the next five hours, Noemi plays bridge.
Sitting at the green felt card table one day last week, Noemi concentrated on the cards in her hand. Noemi and her bridge partner Earl Zitting are up by two games.
"Noemi's the best," admits competitor Ilse Boldt.
"I've been playing longer than you," Noemi answers.
She taught herself to play 60 years ago, "by books, and I did a lot of tournament playing. I used to love to go to tournaments, all over the state, and Nevada and Colorado," she says.
And she has a bridge-player's coveted "master points" to show for it. Players who finish first, second or third place at the tourneys win one point. Every 100 points equals one master point. It's not a quick or easy process. Noemi, however, has 522 master points.
"I wasn't interested in master points," Noemi insists. "I just love to play."
Playing for the love of the game--now there's an ageless idea.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
