OBITUARY: Jean Seward

Jean Seward of Venice, a beloved director, mentor and friend of the members of the Boca Grande Duplicate Bridge Club, died on November 2, 2022. She was a well-loved popular director of the club from 2010 to her retirement in 2016.

According to her very good friend, Janet Laudenslager, “Jean and her husband Jack moved to Florida over 25 years ago from Vermont, where she had a bridge club with Pierce Smith and Jim Thomas. She had a great love of the game and continued to be an active player and director in Florida. When directing, she delighted in setting out a tasty spread of refreshments. No one left hungry. She took a personal interest in all of her players, many of whom became her friends. 

Jean and Jack, who died last year, had two sons, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  

Ingrid Yonker, current president of the Boca Grande Duplicate Bridge Club, said, “I cannot put into words how highly I regarded Jean. She was such a capable and industrious person. Everyone in the bridge club absolutely loved her and benefited by her generosity. I like to think that we helped make those years when she was caring for her husband a little happier. 

“I will never forget the time when Hank Wright, who was no longer able to come to bridge, had his wife drive him to the club so he could say farewell to Jean. That is how special she was to many of the bridgers.”

Her ever-present, wonderful, infectious laugh set a happy tone for the game. 

Jay Whipple, founder of Boca Grande Duplicate Bridge Club, said, “Jean transformed bridge on the island into a premier event not to be missed. You could always count on her to cheer a room, count on her to care for the most challenged … count on her to control a room of Boca Grande players from all backgrounds.”

She was a rockstar who will be missed.