Longtime Boulder player Larry Dolan passed away in April 2019. His wife and sometime bridge partner Jeanne had died less than a year before. An adult lifetime of taking anti-epilepsy drugs had left him with severe neuropathy in the legs. Related to the neuropathy or not, Larry also fought a balance problem. Even when he was still walking unaided, regular club players will remember that he would occasionally crash to the floor when trying to take a seat. He fought his handicaps with grace and good humor.
Regular players will also remember that Larry was the perennial masterpoint winner at Suzanne Jones's Wednesday and Friday games. As good a player as he was, opposing him at the table was never an experience to be dreaded.
I first met Larry at the Niwot Thursday evening game, where he frequently played with Clint Heiple. Larry and I established a regular game on Friday afternoon, which we continued for the better part of twenty years. There were of course both lean and good times. A couple of amusing instances:
Larry and I had recently begun playing Exclusion Keycard, and at one Sectional event I found myself declarer in Five Diamonds, holding a void in diamonds opposite Larry's Ax. (At least I was able to draw two rounds of trump.)
I felt proud and confident after Larry and I concluded a sound keycard auction, landing in Seven Spades. My RHO doubled and led the Ace of Spades! (Seven Spades made — RHO's cards were from a different board!)
Rest in Peace, Larry. You were one of a kind and everyone misses you.
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