Allen Gail FindeisenAl Findeisen passed away suddenly at home on March 1, 2001. Born March 27, 1939, in San Antonio, Al was a graduate of Brackenridge High School in San Antonio where he was president of the band and an honors student. In 1967, Al earned his master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Following his graduation Al worked at Applied Research Laboratories for 25 years. During this time he married Virginia Hill with whom he had two children. Although the couple divorced in 1981, they remained friends. Al's life was greatly brightened by his fiancee, Sue Odom. Together they directed the Austin Bridge Studio and were a joy to all who knew them. Al was loved and admired for his intelligence, integrity and wonderful sense of humor. Many will miss him dearly. His father, Ben Findeisen; his mother, Melbourne Meyer Findeisen; and his brother, Bernie A. Findeisen, preceded Al in death. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Betty Findeisen, with their three sons, Benjamin, Stephen, and Christopher; his daughter and son-in-law, Bruce and Susan Glasenapp, with their two children, Michael and Michelle; and by his fiancee, Sue Odom. His burial was at Austin Memorial Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, 2001. A memorial gathering celebrating Al's life was held at the Austin Bridge Studio on Sunday, March 11, 2001, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. |
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- Jack Lacy, Round Rock
- I have known Al for almost as long as we have been in
Texas. He has always been a good friend and I will miss him a lot.
I remember Al long before he started in the studio. I specifically remember one fourth of July tournament where a bunch of us stayed at a house he owned in San Antonio. We all slept on the floor, ate lots of junk food, and discussed our bridge triumphs (and disasters) to the wee hours of every morning. It was great fun and typical of Al and his generosity.
We will all miss Al a lot. Adios, pal. May all your finesses work in the place where you are now.
- Steve Bruce, Austin
- It was during the past 5 years that I became good friends
with Al. I started posting a bridge website at the same time he
and Sue started managing the Bridge Studio of Austin, so I came
to depend on Al for information about the club games. He was always
most helpful about anything that I asked him for.
The bridge club is only 7 minutes from our house and Dena and I must have averaged playing a hundred times a year down there. Often after the bridge game was over we'd stay late and visit, swapping bridge stories and jokes. One Saturday night after the game Dena, myself, Al, Sue Odom, and maybe Charlene Sands were all sitting around the table back in the "smoking room" and the subject of "What's the matter with kids these days" came up. It was mentioned that kids today have everything handed to them. They all have their own cars in high school. Someone added, "High school? How about junior high?" Al mused upon this, stroking his beard a few times while he thought. Then he said slowly, "I believe I had a car in junior high school." After a few seconds Sue quipped, "But Al, you were 16 years old!"
Besides his sense of humor, Al was known for his integrity and sense of fairness. To a fault maybe. I know when playing on a team with him at the studio if he was required to make a ruling involving his own team, he would bend over backwards not to rule for his side if the decision was a close one. I know he couldn't stand it if he thought that someone might think he was being partial to one side, particularly if it were his own.
I'll miss Al very much and treasure the memories.
- Marie Bailey, San Antonio
- When I opened my first Bridge club I had one of the first 0-99 tournaments ever held in the
district. Al was there! Along with Sue, Al Remer (He got his first full masterpoint at the club),
Kevin Perkins, Scott Humphrey, and a whole lot more. Had 19 tables on Saturday, most of which came from Austin.
Between sessions, the players from Austin went out and bought me a bouquet of flowers in appreciation for all the hospitality at the club. I thought I would cry when Al handed them to me on behalf of the Austin players.
It was always fun to remember those days when we were all so new to the fold. Al and I spoke of them many times, and how far some of the players have come and the changes that have taken place.
When I found out that Al and Sue were running the club, I knew it was in good hands.
You don"t have to be around someone all the time to feel the loss. The guy with the "big smile." Just the mention of his name will always bring a smile to my face.
If you would like to express your feelings about Al or share a story about him with others, please send an email to <stevebruce@austin.rr.com> and I'll add it to this page.