Dot Sheridan - A Tribute
I first met Dot 9 years ago when she, along with John started Bridge lessons with me and a few others. Sadly Bridge wasn’t John’s game (nor my husband’s as it turned out) but it was Dot’s.
This was the start of a great friendship. Along with Barbara and Marilyn we spent many hours practising and trying to get the hang of this confusing game over the Christmas holidays the year we learnt. And we did learn but we laughed more.
Even today, when I am trying to decide whether to bid my hand because I don’t like it, I still hear Dot’s voice in my head saying “How do I know what you’ve got unless you tell me?”
I think this says even more about Dot than just in a Bridge context. One always knew where one was with Dot as she told you, and wanted to be told what any issues were, always kindly and always with love. Perhaps partly because of this she always had a large number of friends and always people wanting to play Bridge with her.
Dotty was a compassionate, caring and fun person to be with and always willing to help. She acted as a buddy for new players and was an excellent Tournament secretary, her bubbly personality meant she was very good at meeting and greeting people and remembering their names.
In August this year Dot (along with Helen) was the ‘meeter and greeter’ at our Sixes Tournament where she greeted over 250 players. Then she played a whole day of Bridge – a very big effort with the stage of her health at that time but this was typical of her ‘can do’ attitude.
We’re also a bit crazy at Bridge and quite often dress-up in themed costumes for various events. Dot was always an enthusiastic team player and participant on all occasions entering into the fun of the event - and we have plenty of photographic evidence of Dot in numerous guises – a Waikato supporter, a Domino, royalty, member of a Bridge construction team and as a Mickey Mouse.
She was a buddy for both Beth and Dianne and gave them good advice and care, although Beth recalls Dot saying if you don’t know what to do ‘go with your gut” which Beth said was not necessarily the best advice with her propensity to put on weight.
Dot was also a bit of a problem child at Bridge. Bridge is a game generally played in a quiet room, but if there was laughter anywhere round the room on a Wednesday night it generally emanated from Dot’s table – and didn’t we all enjoy her laughter and sense of humour and will miss it so much.
Dot gathered people around her and cared for them and always showed a special interest in them
Dot was our Queen of Hearts who moved from card table to card table bringing joy into all of our lives.
We’ll all miss you, our lovely lady and Queen of Hearts
