Ed Layton (1936 - 2009)

Ed Layton, long time unit member, board member, and bridge teacher, passed away peacefully at his home, September 17, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. A celebration of his life was held September 27th before the unit game. At the memorial, both non-bridge players and bridge player friends of Ed’s provided anecdotes and personal memories.

Ed was certified as a Master Teacher, the highest attainable teaching rank, and had achieved the rank of Silver Life Master as a player. In total, Ed had played Bridge for over 45 years. The Soledad Club will make a donation in Ed’s name to the American Cancer Society.

Patrick Chapman

Bridge played a large role in Ed’s very active life. He was a fine player, served many years on Unit and District Boards, was Tournament Chairman of the San Diego Regional for many years, and was one of San Diego’s most successful teachers for over 20 years. His passion, enthusiasm and patience helped him to introduce hundreds of beginning students to the game; his intermediate lessons helped hundreds more improve their game.

Ed loved to create action at the table, considering it high praise when Evan Bailey, John Coufal, and other top players would opine, “it’s never boring at Ed’s table!” He told a wonderful joke. He was a wonderful friend. He will be greatly missed.

Bill Grant

Ed Layton was born in New York City in 1936. He moved to Cleveland during the 1950s and then to San Diego in 1983 where he began teaching bridge almost immediately at evening community college class. Later he began teaching classes at the Riford Community Center and then at the Soledad Club.

One of his students remembers Ed saying, “You need a note from your mother to bid 5 clubs or 5 diamonds (bypassing 3N)” and “There is no such thing as blind leads, just deaf bridge players.”

Steve Johnson

Ed was playing at a Regional, they had been following and every pair was just waiting and waiting. They finally get to the table and the N/S apologized for holding everyone up (it had been their fault). Ed said, “That’s OK, I would just like to play the cards on the same day they are dealt.”

Matthew Kidd

Rats! Just when I had figured out that a few penalty doubles might yield the best result against Ed, he makes the ultimate takeout double.

On a more serious note, although I have only known Ed for a few years, he and I exchanged some candid e-mail this summer about board matters. It was clear that he cared very much about the La Jolla Unit, promoting a healthy rivalry between our unit and the San Diego unit, and having the La Jolla Unit known for its hospitality. Though it is a fact that bridge players will eat nearly anything, Ed made a stand for a higher standard which I think we would do well to remember.

2011 Update: Recently someone reminded me about Ed’s vanity plate, ESSENIF, the backward finesse.

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