Barry Hillmer, longtime president of the Durango Bridge Club, died Oct. 8 at age 79. He served as club president for 20 years and taught countless beginner and intermediate bridge players without charging for classes.
Hillmer was an avid supporter of The Longest Day Contract Bridge League Fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association and helped the club raise $12,482 in 2018, making Durango the highest amount raised in Colorado and 19th nationwide. The fundraiser involved playing bridge from sunrise to sunset on June 21, the longest day of the year, to symbolize the difficult journey of living with Alzheimer’s.
Hillmer’s passion for bridge started when he went away to college. He played for almost 60 years. Under his leadership as club president, the club now has four American Contract Bridge League-sanctioned sessions weekly, and all players have access to online hands, comparisons and results.
