The following Post about Roger Morrison was written by his friend and long time league member, David Boyd.

I’ve been processing for the last 24 hours the passing of one of my closest friends, a 47 year lifetime companionship.  We always managed, through ups and downs, and occasional periods of distance, which are part of enduring friendships, to come back together, rather than give up on each other.  I would think at times, “I can’t just let go of a friendship, of whatever the current length of time was, 20, 35 or 40 years, they’re too hard to come by”.  We had been in regular contact for the last 8 months, commiserating about Covid 19, sharing updates continuously.  However that wasn’t the cause of his death.  He had let me know three days ago that he finally got tested, and was relieved to be negative for the virus.  What I know so far, is that his roommates had gone to check on him, after not having been out of his room, for an unusual length of time, and found him dead.  I’ve been blessed to have many, many friends and acquaintances, but other than family, I’ve never lost a friend of such a length of time.

We travelled well together, and enjoyed frequent day excursions.  We were always willing to compromise and do side tracks to accommodate something one or the other was interested in.  We shared many similar pleasures, and it was always like having four eyes when we were “out and about”.  We often faced each other over breakfasts at the French Quarter, and we would alert each other when some approaching “eye candy” was coming from behind the other.

I’m quite sure, for some time, there are going to be situations arise, where my instinct is going to be, “I’ve gotta’ call Roger about this”.

I’m gonna’ miss you, Roger
-David Boyd

Ronald Alan Rinker

•A Remembrance•

Born:  August 3,1950
Los Angeles, CA

Death: On or about November 14, 2020
Oceanside, California
Heart Attack

Coincidentally, Ron joined the LAPL after seeing our Member’s Registration Meeting advertisement in Frontiers Magazine. At that time he was unaware of the existence of our sister city leagues in Long Beach and San Diego. Ron was living in San Clemente and the 5:00 P.M. traffic up to Los Angeles on Tuesdays was a challenge.

I say “coincidentally” since we rarely ran a paid ad in Frontiers since it was well over our print budget. It was a quarter page size and appeared in just one issue during a two or three year period of time.

He attended that Fall Registration Meeting in search of a slot on any team that needed a single player. He was paired with the Gauntlet II team and played for many seasons with Victor Brooks as his Captain.

Eventually, Ron would also participate in the Sunday Fund Raising events held on Sundays and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

After a few seasons, he found that both Long Beach and San Diego had similar formats and demographics. I was surprised that he didn’t switch to a much closer location. I asked him why he continued to make the long drive from San Clemente on Tuesday nights. He replied that he had made many friends in our League and wanted to maintain those relationships.

Ron’s first trip to the West Coast Challenge as a player was when he qualified during the Spring 2002 season as a winner of the HI/LO event with Jeffrey Hersh. Jeffrey exercised his option to play in the Open Individuals instead and Ron was paired w/Phil Burns at WCC XLV (July12-14, 2002 held at the Rawhide Bar in Los Angeles)

Subsequently, Ron served on the LAPL Board of Governors during the Fall 2004 and Spring 2005 seasons.

FINALLY, he decided to take the course of least resistance and headed to the San Diego Pool League; much closer to home.

He distinguished himself as a player and a longtime member of the Board of the San Diego League. We would see him twice a year at the West Coast Challenge either as a player, member of the SDPL Board or a Judge.

Ron was a real gentleman and good sport. We can all learn from his example.

As a former member of the LAPL Board who served selflessly, we will miss his good humor and steadiness.

Michael Loyer, a member of the San Diego Pool League, has also posted a tribute to Ron on Facebook from the perspective of Ron’s service to the SDPL.

-jh

Donald Bruce Howell
June 20, 1950 - Reseda, California
November 1, 2019 - Los Angeles

The League is saddened to report the passing of Don Howell, one of our first members.

In one of the League’s earliest seasons, the Board appointed Don as one of two ex-officio judges. His membership dates to the mid 1970s.

Don loved the League. He was an active player for many years before his health forced him to retire. He regularly entertained us with his Santa Claus outfit at our Fall Awards Banquets. We especially remember his performances at our major anniversary events - Trouper’s Hall (10th), the Westin Bonaventure Hotel (25th) and at the Sportsman’s Lodge on the occasion of the League’s 50th season celebration.

The last League event Don was physically able to attend with great effort was the Fall 2009 Awards Banquet held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at MoonShadow when the League presented the Special Recognition Award to Frank Bustamante. Don considered Frank to be a dear friend and wanted to be present.

Don played for numerous sponsors over more than sixty seasons - A partial list includes the In Touch East, Bunkhouse, Shooters, JOX, The Rusty Nail (FUBAR) and Eagle LA. He represented us at WCC XLII (January 2001) in San Francisco finishing 7th in the WCC Open Individuals. He qualified for the delegation with his sixth place Open Individual slot from the Fall 2000 season.

Don was an expert Life Master Bridge player who taught professionally and often partnered with his students who strived to attain Life Master status.

Many years ago, he found employment in the medical reporting and billing field and was hired by Bill Hoover and Orlando Leung of UltraMED. Don eventually worked from his apartment and was still employed by UltraMED at the time of his passing.

Don served in the Navy and was stationed in Guam. He will be buried in the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside. He was the son of Eugene and Ruth (néé Lampton) Howell and is survived by a brother Ken and Brenda.

Photo and obituary:
Jeffrey Hersh

Additional Obituarty from Ken Howell

Donald Bruce Howell was born in Los Angeles, in June of 1950. He was the youngest of three children.  Don’s early years were happy, the family enjoyed camping in the Sierras, lake and ocean fishing, playing cards and board games. He received a violin (a Stradivarius copy) and started lessons. But Don preferred the piano. He became an excellent player and even played professionally in lounges as an adult.

The family moved several times, from Hollywood to Van Nuys, to Northridge, to La Crescentia and finally back to Reseda. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1968.
After High School, Don joined the Navy and served on the U.S.S. Proteus (AS19) as a submarine tender home ported in Guam. He was Honorably Discharged as an Electronics Mate Third Class Petty Officer in 1970.  Don went back to school on the G.I. Bill, initially at UCLA, and then at Los Angeles City College where he received an Associate of Arts degree and he also completed a Three-Year Certificate in Liberal Arts.  

Don worked as a bookkeeper, a manager for a 100-unit luxury Condominium complex where he supervised 16 employees. Most recently, Don was a medical biller, a job he could work out of his apartment. His employer was also a good friend and fellow bridge player who helped him a lot in recent years.

Don was very intelligent and was a member of MENSA. He was also a master bridge player, taught bridge professionally part time, and traveling California and Nevada to play and win tournaments.  On top of this, Don was also a champion pool player, and played for many years.

The last thirty years Don had endured several serious health issues that ultimately ended his life way too soon.   We will miss him a lot.  We will miss his intellect, his smart wit and his conversations that have been compared to poetry.  

Rest in Peace Don, we will always love and remember you.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the AIDS foundation

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
6255 Sunset Blvd., 21st Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90028 USA
323-860-5200
www.aidshealth.org  

Riverside National Cemetery
22495 Van Buren Boulevard
RIVERSIDE, CA
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Saturday, November 9th, 2019
12:15pm
Please be at the cemetery no later than Noon on Saturday
Plant a Tree in Memory of Donald