ROSSINI071407

Louise Rossini taught bridge's tricks

The champion's strong suit may have sharing her love for the game.

By Ben Cohen, Star Tribune

Last update: July 13, 2007 - 8:55 PM

After a career with the old Northwestern Bell phone company, Louise Rossini of Edina turned to playing bridge, and she eventually turned her new pastime into a second career.

Rossini, who became a very popular bridge teacher in the Minneapolis area, died July 8 in Edina.

She was 94.

"Students loved her. She was unbelievably pleasant and had a smile for everybody. She could get down to the basics, and didn't act like she was above them," said Larry Oakey, a bridge player who directs tournaments at the Bridge Center of the Twin Cities, one of many venues where she taught.

When Rossini became a Life Master of the game, it was "an important achievement," said Oakey, who added that she won national competitions.

He recalled that Rossini gave a lot of herself to card players, by coordinating tournaments and advocating for the game.

"She was a solid, consistent player," said Oakey, adding that you could count on her to make the correct bid.

Before her bridge-playing days, Rossini honed her teaching skills at the phone company, giving instruction in the operation of business phone systems.

She began work at the company around 1930, but she left a few years later to raise a family. After her husband, Arthur, died in 1946, she returned to work at Northwestern Bell so that she could support her children. She rose to a management job, and retired in 1968.

It wasn't until Rossini was 90 that she retired from teaching bridge, her part-time job.

Barb Kurtenbach of Minneapolis is a former student, who last played bridge with Rossini three weeks ago.

"She still played a good game," said Kurtenbach. "For her, the etiquette of bridge was very important. She would say that you always want to make sure your opponents are on an even playing field."

Rossini, a Saskatchewan native, grew up in St. Paul. She graduated from the now-closed Good Counsel Girls' Academy in Mankato.

Her daughter Diane died in 1990.

She is survived by her daughters, Mary Lou of Whitewater, Wis., and Maxine of Bloomington; brothers Anthony Reiter of St. Paul and Frederic Reiter of Hudson, Wis.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Grace, 5071 Eden Av., Edina.

Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. at the church.

Ben Cohen • bcohen@startribune.com