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Long time bridge player, Harry Shaffer, died this week
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James Gunn (l.) and Harry Shaffer after winning the NAOP in 1999.
The local bridge community lost a fine player and good friend this week with the death of Harry Shaffer. Harry turned 90 years old in late August and earned his Silver Life Master award in September. That may well have been one of his proudest achievements!
He was born in Vienna, Austria and left in 1938 when the Nazis invaded. He lived in Cuba for two years before coming to the United States. Harry served as a German translator in U.S. Army Intelligence during World War II. The G.I. Bill paid for an education at New York University where he earned a doctorate in economics.
He was teaching at the University of Alabama in 1956 when the school admitted its first black student, Autherine Lucy. When more than 3,000 white students protested, she complained that the University had not done enough to protect her. She was expelled for defamation and Harry along with 28 other members of the faculty left in protest.
The event proved to be most fortunate for the University of Kansas, where Harry came and taught for 51 years. He was one of the most popular teachers on campus. He often joked about people approaching him and telling him they had taken a class from him, or that a parent had taken a class from him. Only once, he said, did someone say, “My grandfather took a class from you.”
In 1999, Harry and partner and fellow KU professor James Gunn represented District 15 of the American Contract Bridge League in the North American Open Pairs event at NABC in Vancouver, British Columbia. They brought home a resounding victory, winning first place in C against other talented pairs from all over the US and Canada.
Harry played bridge at least twice a week and played in the Trick or Treat sectional tournament in Lawrence just days before he passed away. He is well known among local bridge players as a sharp, smart and aggressive player with a tremendous grasp of the game.
His favorite table at Kaw Valley Bridge Club, number 7, was left vacant during Friday’s game. Several players offered remembrances. Ed Howard elicited some chuckles when he spoke of Harry’s passionate approach to the game and his competitiveness. Amit Chakrabarti of Manhattan reminded us of Harry’s unyielding commitment to equal rights for all. We will miss him. Remember to slow down, Harry!
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