December 29, 2002

                                                 by Linda Patton

LP:       Where were you raised and what is your educational background?

 DF:      I was born in Ottawa in 1940, where my father was employed by what was then the Bell Telephone Company.  When I was ten my father was transferred to Montreal and I resided there until moving to Victoria less than two years ago.  While in Montreal I attended both McGill and Concordia (St. George Williams) Universities, where I received a Bachelor of Science degree.  Upon graduating I acquired accounting courses and subsequently received a CA. 

 LP:       Were you employed as a Chartered Accountant in Montreal?

 DF:      Yes, I was employed by Touche Ross for 4-5 years and then worked with Montreal Life Insurance as treasurer for 15 years, a job I thoroughly enjoyed.  As can happen, the company was sold and the new owners dismissed the current employees.  It was then that I bought the Linton Bridge Club (a ‘rubber’ bridge club where one played for money!) and operated it for about 12 years.   I sold the club and offered my expertise as a professional player.

 LP:       How did you become interested in this great game?

 DF:      I started playing as a teenager in 1955 but did not take the game seriously until my university days.  Since then I have managed to obtain approximately 200-400 master points annually and became a Grand Life Master in 2002.  This means one has garnered 10,000 points in addition to winning a national competition.  There are currently only two players in this category residing in Canada.  Another player has10,000 points but has not won a national event.   The CNTC is my favourite competition, which I have won a couple of times, and I have represented Canada many times in international competition, including the Bermuda Bowl in Tunisia in 1997.

 LP:       Your wife, Sandra, is no slouch herself having over 6000 points.  How did you meet?

 DF:      We met at the Linton Bridge Club and became friends.  The friendship developed into a bridge partnership and subsequently marriage.  I have two national titles, one of which was obtained with Sandra as my partner in a mixed team event.  I have a daughter, Andrea, who resides in Toronto and a son, Derek, who lives in the Yukon. 

 LP:       Do you have any interests outside of bridge?

 DF:      Yes, I am a philatelist with an extensive collection of Canadian, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Australian, and New Zealand stamps.  Even though I started collecting as a child, it did not become a serious hobby until about 30 years ago.   My other interests are walking and history, in particular Canadian and British. 

 LP:       What advice would you give to anyone contemplating learning the game of bridge?

 DF:      It is important to develop a system and I recommend the 2 over 1 game force. Anything else is inferior, but there is nothing wrong with learning the basics if you are just starting out.   If one has never played bridge but has ‘card sense’, then I recommend they start with the game forcing system.  I also like a variable no trump, 3^rd and 5^th leads, splinters, Bergen raises, forcing Stayman and criss cross for the minor suits.  Work together with your partners to evolve and improve a system that works best for you, adding to and subtracting from as necessary.  

 LP:       Do you have a favourite partner?

 DF:      Sandra is a wonderful partner – logical, very steady and fun to play with.  Since moving to Victoria I have enjoyed a partnership with Mike Hargreaves and we plan on competing as a team at the 2003 CNTC in Penticton. 

 LP:       Have you had opportunities to volunteer in some bridge-related capacity?

 DF:      Yes, I have served in many capacities such as:

• board member of the Montreal Bridge League for many years.  Specifically, I was unit coordinator for special events, acting as Chairman for the first bridge week held by the Montreal Bridge League and Canadian Bridge Federation (CBF) in Montreal;
• judiciary Chairman for District 1, where I was involved in a complicated appeal against Unit 192 Ottawa;
• first alternate for District one to the Board of Directors of the ACBL;
• member of the Board of Governors of the ACBL for many years;
• member of the Board of the CBF for five years, representing Zone II.

LP:       What does the future hold for you as far as bridge is concerned?

 DF:      I am currently on the board of Unit 431 but will be resigning as of January, 2003.  In November, I was the successful candidate for the position of Director of District VI of the Canadian Bridge Federation and I look forward to serving in this capacity.  Also, I have offered to give a few lessons to the local College Bridge Team in preparation for the University Games in February of 2003 and as in Montreal, I offer professional bridge lessons or tournament play (fees available upon request).  I am most interested in promoting the development of bridge in Canada at the school level as well as through the Internet. 

 LP:       Do you have any final words of advice?

 DF:      Respect your opponents and call the director for legitimate infractions only.  Enjoy the game!  

LP:       It was obvious to me during the interview that you have unlimited enthusiasm for the game of bridge and want to share this wonderful game with others.  Thank you for spending this time with me and good luck at the CNTC.