Joe Ross Remembered, by Jill

     It’s been a sad week for many of us around here. Almost 5 years ago, when I was teaching a class, a big guy in a wheel chair rolled through the door and inquired about bridge lessons and games. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but he wanted to check us out, and asked if he could come back for more information, and to see what it’s like here. I said sure, and suggested a time.

     A few days later, Joe Ross- or Jo Jo as I prefer to call him- came in while I was sitting at a table during a class. As I instructed the table members, I occasionally turned to Joe to explain what was happening, and why. He never said a word, just nodded quietly, resting his chin on his hand, and I wasn’t sure what kind of impression I was making. When he was ready to leave, he said he liked the way things were done, and said he was coming back.

     He started coming regularly to practice sessions Thursday mornings, Friday afternoons, and Tuesday morning topics. Jo Jo was terribly impatient to get going with competition. On April 19^th, 2005 , Jo Jo played his first duplicate bridge game, a Tuesday afternoon intermediate/novice game. He placed at 62.5%, earning .30 masterpoints! Between the practice sessions and the low key duplicate games, Jo Jo started to make a lot of good friends, and became in demand as a partner.

     In 2006, the studio decided to introduce a new open game in the same time slot as the practice session Joe was attending, Friday afternoons. Both games would co-exist. I would still be teaching, as they played in the big room. I suspected I would lose Jo Jo from my group to the new competitive game. I said to him “You’re going to want to play, aren’t you.” He said “Yes…” I said, “No problem.” And off he went to the big times.

     Now Jo Jo was expanding his network to an even wider array of players who quickly came to adore him because of his gentle disposition…. his quiet and inoffensive sense of humour…. his thoughtful unobtrusive presence… his open-mindedness to listening and learning new things… well… one of Jo Jo’s favourite past-times was beating me and Steve when we were his opposition… He delighted in making a doubled contract against us, taking us down heavily, or making a slam against us nobody else was bidding… his smile at those moments lit up the room.

     Despite Joe’s car accident 40 years ago, leaving him paralyzed and with a terribly sensitive immune system unable to withstand adversities the rest of us can have treated quite easily, Jo Jo never complained. Jo Jo was able to fulfill long term jobs full time, and had what you might consider normal intimate relationships, including a marriage with a woman, and acted as a father to her son. Jo Jo was able to drive capably (he drove Murph frequently before he started getting sick a lot, and became hospitalized) (I even had a drive with him once.), spent time with his bridge friends, came to my own home for a few private 1 table sessions; spent countless hours in poker tournaments, winning more than losing; saw every movie played in metro, including the cornball kid’s movies I like to watch… it was always interesting talking to Jo Jo, he had lots of experiences and good ideas to share… even when talking to him required making a trip to the hospital to see him. Going in to see him was sad… talking with him was uplifting and joyful. The last time I went to see him in hospital (which unfortunately wasn’t the last time he was there), Jo Jo had been on oxygen and was having a collapsed lung restored, and was just freed from the machines the day before, and had even been allowed to go outside for an hour. Small pleasures, eh? Seems he was grateful for every gift life gave him.  

    We miss Jo Jo, but we’ll never forget him, and we are thankful that because of the tumultuous last couple years with his deteriorating health and discomfort, Jo Jo is in a better place, at peace and forever in our hearts. Jo Jo, you were in ours lives long enough to make a lasting impression, and for you I’m grateful.

Joe Ross Remembered, by Steve

   On Sunday evening Joe Ross died. Joe was plagued with medical problems. He had a car accident earlier in life and was confined to a wheelchair.  

    Joe always sat north and always managed to fill in the score on the traveller with his "stubs" of hands even though he had to be handed his cards from the board. Joe was a great poker player and frequently did well in tournaments. His achievements at bridge were a bit more modest. However, if there was a slam to be made, Joe and his partner, Murph, would be the ones to find it. Unfortunately they also found many slams that just weren't in the cards.

Once Joe won a poker tournament and invited his friends at the Bridge Studio to share in his prize of free beer and games at the pub where he won. He also loved to spend time at the Casino playing Texas Hold'em.

    Joe was in the hospital a lot especially in the last couple of years...sores that would not heal, respiratory problems, and kidney problems requiring dialysis. I visited Joe a couple of times...sneaking in hamburgers and beer until he got caught and then he advised me that I better not bring in any more...the nurses were getting pissed.

    I loved talking to Joe about what movies were in town and what was worth seeing. God bless the cinema complex that permitted Joe to see any movie he wanted free of charge. We all knew Joe was frequently suffering but he never complained. He always had a smile. He loved to sit in the sunshine and hold his face up to feel the warmth of the sun. Frequently before a game I'd see him sitting outside the entrance to the mall basking out of the wind, savoring each moment as fully as possible before going inside. Even inside the club, if Joe had a sit-out he might wheel to a position under the skylight to find the light of the sun. 

One such day, seeing Joe do this, a fellow bridge player, Nancy, made a very humourous remark...   

    She said, as all the players in the room noted Joe sitting there, chair angled upward, eyes closed, with beams of sunlight falling upon him, "Don't go into the light, Joe!"