Coffin Trophy for Women's Teams

The Coffin Trophy is one of the oldest and most historic trophies in play in NABC competition. For years there was only one "National" Women's Team championship, and that was a Board-a-Match event. The Coffin Trophy, donated by Mr. Charles Emmet Coffin in 1933, was contested at the "Winter Nationals" in the days when there were only two NABC championships, Summer and Winter. Until 1976 the event was a four-session event scored by Board-A-Match and was contested as a three-session championship until 1972 and in 1975. It was then held at the Fall North American Championships until 1963. In 1976 the event became a North American Championship Women's Knockout with Swiss qualifying.

Mr. Charles Emmet Coffin was president of the Indianapolis Whist Club, the Indiana Whist Association and the American Whist League. The trophy was first awarded to the winners of the National Women's Auction Team-of-Four Championship. Until 1976 it was a four-session event scored by Board-a-Match. It was contested as a three-session championship until 1972 and in 1975. The event was held at the Fall NABC until 1963 where it was transferred to the Spring NABC. In 1976 the event became a North American Championship Women's Knockout. Then in 1986 it was switched from the Spring to the Summer NABC.

For the decade between 1976 and 1986, there was no national Women's Board-a-Match team championship. Swiss Teams had become popular and a Women's Swiss with NABC rating was established in the early 1980s. But Board-a-Match play for women was not dead. The game was just in limbo for a few years.

It was in Atlanta, at the Fall NABC in 1986, that the Coffin Trophy was revived and a new Women's Board-a-Match play was started again. Many experts consider board-a-match the most exacting form of the game. Equal weight is accorded each deal, and every trick is important in board-a-match play where scoring is board-by-board.

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the rebirth, and as the result of consideration and updating of many historic trophies by the ACBL Board of Directors, the Coffin Trophy is on display in Atlanta. Names of modern winners 1986-1994 have been added to the polished and burnished cup. They join more than 40 teams of women who won the Trophy 1933-1975.

1933
1. Mrs. Greene Fenley Jr., Mrs. Richard Field, Mrs. John Friedlander, Jane Wallace

2. Mollie Funk, Ethel Gardner, Marguerite Hoffmeier, Marie White

1934
1. Gail Hamilton, Marguerite Hoffmeier, Helen Pendelton Rockwell, Anne Rosenfeld

2. Elizabeth Banfield, Phyllis Gardner, Eva Gross, Dorothy Roberts

1935
1. Doris Fuller, Angela Quigley, Florence Stratford, Helen White (later Sobel)

2. Gail Hamilton, Marguerite Hoffmeier, Helen Pendelton Rockwell, Anne Rosenfeld

1936
1. Doris Fuller, Angela Quigley, Florence Stratford, Helen White (later Sobel)

2. Marge Anderson, Mrs. J.A. Faulkner, Marjorie Haldeman, Mrs. G. Keedick

1937
1. Martha Lemon, Mrs. Philip Stockvis, Mrs. Martin West, Sally Young

2. Doris Fuller, Angela Quigley, Helen Sobel, Florence Stratford

1938
1. Mrs. Galloway Morris, Lillian Peck, Olive Peterson, Mrs. Donald Tansill

2. Mariquita Fullerton, Mollie Funk, Ann Rosenfeld, Lucille Schwarz

1939
1. Doris Fuller, Mable Ervin, Helen Mitchell, Helen Sobel, Sally Young

2. Sylvia DeYoung, Margaret Katzen, Catherine W. Samberg, Florence Stratford

1940
1. Helen Levy, Adelaide Neuwirth, Margaret Wagar, Lottie Zetosch

2. Ruth Horn, Olga hilliard, Marguerite McKenney, Gussie Planco

1941
1. Inez Buchanan, Mae Dickens, Mabel Scott, Linda Terry

2. Doris fuller, Mrs. Joseph M. Rothschild, Helen Sobel, Sally Young

1942
1. Peggy Golder, Olga Hilliard, Olive Peterson, Ruth Sherman

2. Emily Folline, Doris fuller, Ethel Gardner, Helen Sobel

1943
1. Emily Foline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young

2. Eleanor Hirsch, Evelyn Lebhar, Marguerite McKenney, Florence Stratford

1944
1. Emily Foline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young

2. Mrs. M. Godfrey, Mrs. C.W. Neeld, Dorothy Sullivan, Anne H. Todd

1945
1. Emily Foline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young

2. Josephine Gutman, Gratian Goldstein, Marjorie Perlmutter, Gretchen Schildmiller

1946
1. Emily Foline, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young

2. Paula Bacher, Marie Basher, Jane Jaeger, Pauline Schmuckler

1947
1-2. Marge Anderson, Ruby Lyons, Mimi Roncarelli, Jane Wallace

1-2. Cass Illig, Frances Robinson, Alma Stewart, Carolyn Sondheim

1948
1. Ruth Gordon, Gratian Goldstein, Jo Gutman, Charlotte Sidway

2. Ruth Gilbert, Olive Peterson, Edith Seligman, Ruth Sherman, Peggy Solomon

1949
1-2. Hortense Evans, Frances Robinson, Carolyn Sondheim, Mrs. Henry Sabatt

1-2. Marianne Boschan, Catherine Cotter, Gertrude Eberson, Katherine McNutt

1950
1. Marge Anderson, Mary Bowden, Ruth Gordon, Eloise Neil

2-5. Olive Peterson, Ruth sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar

2-5. Shirley Fairchild, Mrs. Ezra Feldman, Rose Groves, Luise Mathews, Claire Meyer

2-5. Margaret Byrd, Isabelle Garn, Virginia Ploehn, Billy Traveletti

2-5. Inez Buchanan, Zodie Glover, Sally Herman, Mabel Scott

1951
1. Paula Bacher, Anne Burnstein, Dolly Rosenfeld, Edith Seligman, Sally Young

2. Thelma Hathorn, Mollie Steiner, Agatha Tiernan, Clara Tiernan, Mary Elizabeth Tiernan

1952
1. Jackie Begin, Sally Herman, Jessie Moore, Norma Matz

2-3. Peggy Adams, Helen Baker, Marguerite Harris, Ethel Keohane

2-3. Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar

1953
1. Gretchen Feldstein, Vera Glick, Gratian Goldstein, Lucille Schwarz

2-3. Mary Jane Kauder, Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Margaret Wagar

2-3. Elaine Lee, Olive Peterson, Roberta Sheronas, Peggy Solomon

1954
1. Wynne Ecker, Doris Fuller, Marguerite Harris, Norma Matz

2-5. Marguerite Bouldin, Lillian Hassler, Ann Jervis, Dorothy Payne

2-5. Marie Cohn, Olive Peterson, Pauline Schmuckler, Peggy Solomon

2-5. Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar

2-5. Margaret Alcorn, Louise Eisenman, Emily Folline, Sue Reith

1955
1. Peggy Adams, Carolyn Brall, Louise Eisenman, Shirley Johnson, Juanita Strich

2-4. Kay Rhodes, Ruth Sherman, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar

2-4. Anne Burnstein, Edith Kemp, Paula Levin, Ruth Steinberg, Sally Young

2-4. Ruth Gordon, Josephine Gutman, Evelyn Engleman, Margaret Katzen, G. Eloise Neil

1956
1. Peggy Rotzell, Jan Stone, Charlotte Sidway, Mary Elizabeth Tiernan

2. Kay Rhodes, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young

1957
1. Marie Cohn, Mary Jane Kauder, Stella Rebner, Peggy Solomon

2. Agnes Gordon, Kay Rhodes, Helen Sobel, Margaret Wagar

1958
1. Carolyn Brall, Bee Gale, Sally Johnson, Peggy Rotzell

2. Kay Rhodes, Helen sobel, Margaret Wagar, Sally Young

1959
1. Margaret Alcorn, Lee Kasle, Jo Sharp, Adelaide Simon, Garner McDaniel

2. Kay Dunn, Jane Herb, Malvine Klausner, Helen Portugal, Rose Reif

1960
1. Roberta Erde, Sally Johnson, Barbara Kachmar, Bee Schenken

2. Joan Remey, Helen Shanbrom, Sylvia Stein, Marge Stone

1961
1. Roberta Erde, Sally Johnson, Barbara Kachmar, Bee Schenken

2. Mary Jane Farell, Terry Michaels, Peggy Solomon, Jan Stone

1962
1. Anne Burnstein, Edith Kemp, Alicia Kempner, Stella Rebner, Teddie Warner

2. Muriel Kaplan, Terry Michaels, Garner McDaniel, Jan Stone

1962 The event was changed to be conducted at the new Spring NABC, and was no longer played at the retired Winter Nationals.

1963
1. Pat Adler, Terry Michaels, Garner McDaniel, Carol Sanders, Sylvia Stein

2. Dorothy Hayden, Barbara Kachmar, Agnes Gordon, Helen Portugal, Margaret Wagar

1964
1. Hermine Baron, Mary Jane Farell, Peggy Solomon, Bee Schenken

2. Agnes Gordon, Dorothy Hayden, Helen Portugal, Margaret Wagar

1965
1. Virginia Heckel, Betty Kaplan, Edith Kemp, Jacqui Mitchell

2. Debbie Polak, Joan Remey, Carol Ruther, Sylvia Stein

1966
1-2. Freida Arst, June Deutsch, Sylvia Stein, Carol Stolkin

1-2. Nancy Gruver, Sue Sachs, Garner McDaniel, Terry Michaels

1967
1. Dorothy Hayden, Emma Jean Hawes, Agnes Gordon, Margaret Wagar

2-3. Hermine Baron, Mary Jane Farell, Bee Schenken, Peggy Solomon

2-3. Dolores Bick, Jude Ballard, Ruth Needham, Viola Kirkwood

1968
1. Hermine Baron, Mary Jane Farell, Sally Johnson, Bee Schenken, Peggy Solomon, Rhoda Walsh

2. Jean Frankel, Teddy O'Brien, Mary Beth Townsend, Esta Van Zandt

1969
1. Karen Allison, Virginia Heckel, Edith Kemp, Alicia Kempner, Helen Portugal, Jan Stone

2. Nancy Gurver, Barbara Rappaport, Sue Sachs, Barbara Tepper

1970
1. Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Dorothy Hayden, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Peggy Solomon

2. Dorothy Cowger, Diane Hawes, Florence Van Winkle, Freda Van Cleve

1971
1. Judi Friedenberg, Gail Moss, Marietta Passell, Helen Utegaard, Kathie Wei

2. Roberta Epstein, Gretchen Goldstein, Edith Kemp, Barbara Rappaport, Sylvia Stein

1972
1. Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Dorothy Hayden, Sue Picus

2. Frieda Arst, June Deutsch, Eunice rosen, Carol Stoklin

1973
1. Nancy Gruver, Terry Michaels, Jo Morse, Helen Utegaard

2-4. Nancy Alpaugh, Fran Beard, Heitie Noland, Betsey Wolff, Esta Van Zandt

2-4. Mary Jane Farell, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Marietta Passell, Kathie Wei

2-4. Jean Christopher, Muriel Peterson, Beverly Bosenberg, Elaine Sternberg

1974
1. Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Dorothy Hayden Truscott

2. Hermine Baron, Carol Greenhut, Trudi Nugit, Kerri Shuman

1975
1. Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Dorothy Hayden Truscott

2. Anita Davis, Mildred Freedman, Robin Grantham, Carol Klar

1976
1. Mary Jane Farell, Emma Jean Hawes, Marilyn Johnson, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Dorothy Hayden Truscott

2. Evelyn Levitt, Lila Perlstein, Helen Smith, Vivian Whalen

1976 In 1976 the Women's Teams contesting for the Coffin Trophy was renamed The North American Championship Women's Knockout with Swiss qualifying.

1977 1. Betty Adler, Jo Morse, Judi Radin, Sue Sachs

2. Ida Bennett, Mary Lou Cushner, Carole Felczer, Ethel Keohane

1978 1. Nancy alpaugh, Nancy Gruver, Betty Ann Kennedy, Evelyn Levitt, Carol Sanders, Kerri Shuman

2. Cheri Bjerkan, Sue Halperin, Beverly Nelson, Florine Walters

1979 1. Betty Adler, Anner Burnstein, Edith Kemp, Terry Michaels, Jo Morse, Sue Sachs

2. Cheri Bjerkan, June Deutsch, Sue Halperin, Sandy Leavitt, Beverly Nelson, Florine Walters

1980 1. Nancy Gruver, Edith kemp, Betty Ann Kennedy, Judi Radin, Carol Sanders, Kathi Wei

2. Betty Adler, Pat Lapides, Pat Leary, Terry Michaels, Jo Morse, Jan Stansby

1981 1. June Deutsch, Pat Lapides, Sandy Leavitt, Evelyn Levitt, Jo Morse, Helen Utegaard

2. Karen Allison, Cheri Bjerkan, Lynn Deas, Dianna Gordon, Sue Halperin, Sharyn Kokish

1982 1. Stashe Cohen, Mary Jane Farell, Nancy Gruver, Edith Kemp, Randi Montin, Dorothy Hayden Truscott

2. Betty Ann Kennedy, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Judi Radin, Carol Sanders, Kathie Wei

1983 1. Kathie Wei, Judi Radin, Jacqui Mitchell, Gail Moss, Carl Sanders, Betty Ann Kennedy, Jim Zimmerman (npc)

2. Brenda Keller, Linda Peterson, Nancy Passell, Patsy Arnett, Nell Cahn

1984 1. Edith Kemp Frelich, Nancy Gruver, Mary Jane Farell, Helen Utegaard, Beverly Rosenberg, Carol Pincus

2. Terry Michaels, Garner McDaniel, Mary Williams, Sally Wheeler, Cindy Berstein

1985 1. Rama Linz, Beth Palmer, Kay Schulle, Barbara Hamman, Juanita Skelton, Lynn Deas

2. Roberta Epstein, Jan Martel, Lisa Berkowitz, Rozanne Pollack, lynn Feldman, Sue Picus

1986 The Board-A-Match format was re-introduced in 1986 for the Coffin Trophy.

1986
1. Jo Morse, Evelyn Levitt, Sharon Osberg, Peggy Sutherlin, Cindy Bernstein, Sally Wheeler

2. Rama Linz, Beth Palmer, Lynn Deas, Juanita Chambers, Kerri Shuman, Cheri Bjerkan

1987
1. Kathie Wei, Judi Radin, Jacqui Mittchell, Amalya Kearse, Carol Sanders, Betty Ann Kennedy

2. Mary Jane Farell, Roberta Epstein, Jan Martel, Dorothy Hayden Truscott, Carol Simon, Karen McCallum

1988
1. Beverly Rosenberg, Helen Utegaard, Sue Weinstein, Janice Seamon, Carol Pincus, Pat Schor

2. Terry Michaels, Cindy Bernstein, Linda Perlman, Sue Sachs, Sally Wheeler, Jo Morse

1989
1. Juanita Chambers, Kay Schulle, Cheri Bjerken, Randi Montin, Pam Wittes, Jill Meyers

2. Jo Morse, Joyce Lilie, Cindy Bernstein, Georgiana Gates, Janice Seamon, Linda Perman

1990
1. Mary Jane Farell, Roberta Epstein, Dorothy Hayden Truscott, Gail Greenberg, Lisa Berkowitz, Rozanne Pollack

2. Juanita Chambers, Cheri Bjerkan, Kay Schulle, Jill Meyers, Pam Wittes, Randi Montin

1991
1. Nancy Passell, Nell Cahn, Sue Picus, Stasha Cohen, Susan Green, Sharon Osberg

2. Jacqui Mitchell, Analya Kearse, Joyce Lilie, Jo Morse, Pamela Granovetter, Nancy Alpaugh

1992
1. Juanita Chambers, Cheri Bjerkan, Marinesa Letizia, Janice Seamon

2. Kathie Wei, Helen Utegaard, Carol Sanders, Betty Ann Kennedy, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer

1993
1. Gail Greenberg, Darothy Hayden Truscott, Judy Tucker, Stasha Cohen, Irina Levitina, Rozanne Pollack

2. Kay Schulle, Jill Meyers, Cheri Bjerkan, Janice Seamon

1994
1. Sally Woolsey, Georgiana Gates, Jo Anne Casen, Jan Martel, Joann Glasson, Jo Ann Manfield

2. Kathie Wei-Sender, Carol Sanders, Lisa Berkowitz, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer

1995
1. Juanita Chambers, Lila Perlstein, Gail Greenberg, Jillian Levin, Irina Levitina, Shawn Womack

2. Sun Ming, Gu Ling, Zhang Yalan, Liu Yiqian

1996
1. Pam Wittes, Cheri Bjerkan, Sue Weinstein, Stasha Cohen, Shawn Quinn, Judy Wadas

2. Edith Frilich, June Deutsch, Rita Seamon, Janice Seamon, Susan Wexler, Margie Gwozdzinsky

1997 1. Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Mildred Breed, Tobi Sokolow, Renee Mancuso, Shawn Quinn

2. Kathie Wei-Sender, Juanita Chambers, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer, Stasha Cohen

1998 1. Kitty Munson, Carol Simon, Margie Gwozdzinsky, Susan Wexler, Linda Lewis, Karen Barrett

2. Kathie Wei-Sender, Juanita Chambers, Stasha Cohen, Pam Wittes, Irina Levitina, Jill Levin

1999 1. Carol Sanders, Lynn Deas, Connie Goldberg, Rozanne Pollack, Lisa Berkowitz, Beth Palmer, Karen Allison (npc)

2. Sharon Jabbour, Jan Assini, Susan Miller, Candace Fowler, Mary Oshlag, Laurie Kranyak

2000 1. Kathie Wei-Sender, Juanita Chambers, Jill Levin, Betty Ann Kennedy, Janice Seamon-Molson, Tobi Sokolow

2. Joan Jackson, Petra Hamman, Peggy Sutherlin, Robin Klar, Mildred Breed, Shawn Quinn

2001 1. Valerie Westheimer, Hjordis Eythorsdottir, Carol Simon, Rozanne Pollack

2. Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer, Jill Meyers, Irina Levitina, Randi Montin, Kerri Sanborn

2002
ACBL Meeting at Washington, September 12, 2002. The Coffin Trophy for the Women's Board-a-Match Team game will be replaced with the Marsha May Sternberg Memorial Trophy effective with the Fall of 2002. This is contingent upon a contribution of $50,000 being made by Dr. Jim Sternberg prior to September 1, 2002. Dr. Jim Sternberg will also provide the trophy for this event. Replicas of the trophy will be given to the winners and paid for out of ACBL funds for 20 years. The trophy will be of Dr. Jim Sternberg's choosing. This trophy will be retired in 20 years as provided in motion 911-93 unless renewed by the ACBL Board of Directors. If the trophy is retired at that time all remaining funds will revert to the ACBL General fund.

The Coffin trophy for the Women's Board-a-Match team game will be replaced with the Marsha May Sternberg Memorial Trophy effective with the Fall 2002 NABC. In honoring his wife, Dr. Jim Sternberg followed all the regulations the Board of Directors set up a few years ago which included a contribution of $50,000. This money is to be put in a trust account administered by the ACBL. These funds would pay for replicas of the trophy which would be given to the winners each year and after 20 years all remaining funds would revert to the ACBL general fund. ACBL in September, 2002, approved the trophy and made a separate motion to accept the $50,000 given for trophies into ACBL general funds with the obligation that the ACBL provide replica trophies for the subsequent 20 years.

The picture below shows Marsha May Sternberg and Jim Sternberg taken in 2000.

The Sternberg Women's Board-A-Match Teams event is held at the Fall North American Bridge Championship sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). This event is a four session board-a-match event, two qualifying sessions and two final sessions. The event is restricted to female players.

2002 1. Judi Radin, Hyjordis Eythorsdottir, Mildred Breed, Shawn Quinn, Valerie Westheimer (Captain)

2. Lynn Baker, Debby Rosenberg, Kerri Sanborn, Karen McCallum, Sabine Auken, Daniella Von Arnim

2003 1. Marinesa Letizia, Jill Meyers, Randi Montin, Tobi Sokolow, Janice-Seamon Molson, Carlyn Steiner, (Captain)

2. Valerie Westheimer, Judi Radin, Mildred Breed, Shawn Quinn

2004 1. Jill Levin, Debbie Rosenberg, JoAnna Stansby, Hansa Narasimhan, Sue Picus, Irina Levitina, Hansa Narasimhan (Captain)

2. JoAnn Sprung, Pam Wittes, Renee Mancuso, Kathleen Sulgrove, Peggy Sutherlin, Karen Allison

3. Valerie Westheimer, Judi Radin, Shawn Quinn, Mildred Breed, Stasha Cohen, Cheri Bjerkan

2005 1. Lynn Baker, Kay Schulle, Lynn Deas, Beth Palmer, Daniela von Arnim, Sabine Auken

2. Jean Talbot, Joan Van Geffen, Sylvia S. Caley, Marjorie Michelin

2006 1. Kerri Sanborn, Karen McCallum, Lynn Baker, Beth Palmer, Irina Levitina, Lynn Deas

2. Hansa Narasimhan, Rozanne Pollack, Debbie Rosenberg, JoAnna Stansby, Jill Levin, Jill Meyers

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