Apr 1, 2007

Domino masters compete for Children's Health

By Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

The Children's Health Council Auxiliary presented its 45th anniversary Masters' Domino Tournament on March 24 at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton. Chair Nancy Schumacher and her committee celebrated the anniversary, following the tournament's long-standing traditions, by enjoying a full day of tournament play with a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, live auction and fun mementos.

The event was dedicated to longtime supporter and participant Arthur Inman. Inman's son Roger and grandson Joshua Chilton honored him (on his birthday) by playing in the tournament for the first time in the novice division.

Tournament co-chairs C.O. Tinsley and John Englis were pleased the sold-out event attracted 88 advanced players and 12 novices. For Tinsley, it was a family event, as his wife Carol, sons David and Ron and daughter-in-law Julie were all playing in the advanced tournament.

"We've been doing this since we could reach the domino table," Ron Tinsley said.
Competing families in the action included David and Morgan Dioli, and Jerry and Derek Blum. A first-time foursome, Matt Johanssen, Brian Belluomini, Jim Nunan and Mike Bonaduce, matched "bones" with veterans Barbara McGarr, Dar Ahern, Jerry Mertens and Bill Moorhouse. Tournament winners were George Eshoo and his partner George Schonher.

Emcee Roger May and volunteer auctioneer Allan Abrams set a fast pace for the live auction. A weekend in a beachfront Aptos condo was so popular that Abrams sold it twice.

Over 45 years, the tournament has raised more than $500,000 for the Children's Health Council, an agency which annually provides assessment, education and treatment services for 5,000 Bay Area children with behavioral, educational and developmental challenges.