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February 4, 2005/Shevat 25 5765, Vol. 57, No. 23
Mah jongg maven
Near no-show wins big
HANK NEYER
Contributing Editor
Loretta Kline almost did not show up for the second annual mah jongg tournament on Jan. 20 at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale.
Kline, who says she's been playing the game for at least four decades, was "very excited and very lucky" at the conclusion of the tournament. In 2003, she won a door prize; this year she captured the top cash prize - $100.
Kline, a Scottsdale resident, says she plays mah jongg twice a week and also plays canasta a couple of times a week. She says she almost didn't play because none of her friends were going to participate, but decided to come because she had "such a wonderful time" last year.
Kline says the first person she called after her triumph was her granddaughter, Sharon Heigh, a freshman at Arizona State University, because Sharon had showed her the JCC flier announcing the tournament. Kline says Sharon was doing her homework when she called, but was so excited she started to "scream with joy."
Kline says her husband Marv was "floored," but said he knew she could do it.
Bette Stettner, who teaches mah jongg at the JCC, chaired the event, assisted by Fayth Rustin and Hermi Stone. According to Stettner, this year's tournament drew a much larger crowd than the initial one. Seventy-six people signed up in 2003, while this year's was a sell-out with 100 women registering. There was a mix of players - Phoenix-area residents and "snowbirds," those who migrate to the Valley in the winter to escape the cold in their hometowns.
Suzanne Swift, of the JCC's adult services department, says the tournament was such a huge success that there will be another one this spring - in the evening as opposed to during the day. The scheduled date for that tournament is May 5.
Kline says "like a prize fighter in the ring" she is going to defend her title.
Along with Kline, four other women won prizes for their acumen in the game that originated in China centuries ago. Darlene Handler placed second, followed by Esther Chorney, Sandy Hirshman and Sheila Charlip.
Men, according to Stettner, originally played the game. She adds that while mah jongg traditionally has been played by Jewish women, it has now "become very popular among people of all walks of life."
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