American Contract Bridge League
Unit 484   District 20

Profile

Joe Fazio

(Published June 2004)

The affable Joe Fazio is a new member of our Unit Board. Not only is he a charming
and enthusiastic addition, he brings the perspective of a newer player. At present, he and wife, Anne, play in the monthly 49er Unit game and occasionally at the clubs. For the most recent Unit game, Joe and Anne provided a delicious full meal for the participants.

Joe insists he and Anne moved to Ashland for the bridge games and the great friends they made through bridge. The Fazio's first introduction was the EasyBridge classes sponsored by RVCC and taught by Roger and Elly Jones. Later the couple took classes from Bill Holt, and they are presently learning from Bernadine Lacy. Joe can't praise these teachers—and some of their helpers—highly enough for their knowledge, patience and love of the game.

Joe was born in Chicago. The family moved to California in 1946 when he was 9 years old. He earned advanced degrees in education, was an elementary school teacher, a principal for ten years, and a superintendent for 20 years in Southern California. He and Anne married in 1957 and had two boys and two girls. Three of their children are married - one son is single. The daughters have given the Fazios a total of twelve grandchildren. Joe is already teaching the older ones how to play bridge.

Playing games was a Sunday ritual when Joe was young, but bridge was never played. A sister and a fellow co-worker introduced Joe to the game.

Joe and Anne moved to the Applegate area in 1991, where they managed 54 acres. During the next few years they met so "many lovely bridge players" in the Medford area, they decided to move where the action was in 1997. They sold the acreage and moved to Ashland. The Fazios joined the ACBL in 2001 and have since accumulated a few master points. Joe is thrilled with duplicate bridge. "If I get lucky, I can beat the best players and that's a thrill!"

The Fazios have always raised and bred whippets. They have only one now, which they show in dog shows, but they may get back into the breeding business. Joe also boards a horse named Chancy, which he enjoys riding. He highly praises the ACBL Bulletin, never fails to read the bridge column in the Medford Tribune, plays on the Internet, and his favorite bridge book is "Points Schmoints!" by Marty Bergen.

Joe feels that he can contribute to the Unit Board; he appreciates the excellent leadership of Bill Reeves and the dedication of the other Board members. Joe has so many talents to offer us that we know we will be hearing of him often in the future.