Bridge Column for March 20, 1994 
North-South vulnerable.  West deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: K Q              
                              H: A             
                              D: A K 7 5 3   
                              C: K J 9 3 2
            WEST                             EAST
            S: 5 4                           S: A 6 3        
            H: K Q 9 6                       H: J 8 7 5    
            D: 9 8 4                         D: Q 6               
            C: A 8 5 4                       C: Q 10 7 6    
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: J 10 9 8 7 2
                              H: 10 4 3 2   
                              D: J 10 2   
                              C: N o n e  
                   WEST    NORTH    EAST    SOUTH                 
                   Pass     1D      Pass     1S 
                   Pass     3C      Pass     3D 
                   Pass     4C      Pass     4D 
                   Pass     4S    All Pass
     On the morning of March 9, 1994, Askol Steigman of Beachwood
passed away while taking his morning exercise on a treadmill. 
The previous evening was spent playing bridge with his regular
Tuesday night group:  Roger Siegel of Aurora, Bob Cohn of South
Euclid, Eugene Gordon of Pepper Pike, and this columnist.  
     We played a lot of bridge together and the hand shown above
was one of my favorites.  I wrote it up and sent it to Mike
Cassel who printed it in this column in 1991.
     Steigman sat North and opened the bidding with one diamond. 
I sat in the South seat and I am somewhat ashamed to admit that I
did bid one spade.  Steigman now bid three clubs showing a
powerful, two suited hand.  I took a simple preference to three
diamonds.  Steigman's bid of four clubs was forward going and I
again took a preference to diamonds.
     It would have been easy for Steigman to now pass or bid five
diamonds, and no one could blame him when this contract was
defeated.  After all, his partner could only come up with two
jacks for his three bids.  Steigman's four spade bid was very
thoughtful, and also successful as an overtrick was scored during
the play.  He took the time to consider that a long weak spade
suit in partner's hand might make four spades the best available
contract.
     Askol Steigman will be missed by all of his partners and
everyone who knew him.  In life, as in bridge, he played the
cards he was dealt as well as humanly possible, with grace and
humor.  Tuesday evening's will never be the same.