Lew Stansby has been named the 2018 recipient of the Sidney H. Lazard Jr. Sportsmanship Award. For over five decades, Lew has distinguished himself not only as one of the all-time greats, but as someone with the utmost respect for his opponents, partners, teammates and the game, win or lose.
Stansby was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2001 and is one of the most accomplished players ever. He is an ACBL Grand Life Master and a World Bridge Federation World Grand Master with 37 North American championships and seven world championships, including wins in the Bermuda Bowl (1985, 1987, 2001), the World Open Pairs (1982) and the Rosenblum Teams (1994).
When Stansby was informed about his selection, he responded with typical humility: “I was surprised and appreciative to learn that I had been chosen for this award. I looked at the list of previous picks, and feel honored to be in their company.”
The Sportsman Award was established by Sidney Lazard in honor of his son, Sidney Jr., who died in 1999 at the age of 41 after a year-long battle with cancer. Administered by the ACBL Educational Foundation, the award is given annually to a top-level player, one who has scored a high-level finish in a major national contest. According to Lazard, the object of the award is to “enhance sportsmanship among top players and to salute those who try to win with class and dignity.” The award will be presented at the American Contract Bridge League Hall of Fame banquet during the Summer North American Bridge Championship in Atlanta on July 26.
The selection committee members are Steve Beatty, Zia Mahmood, and Steve Weinstein.
Previous winners:
2017 Eddie Kantar
2016 Boye Brogeland
2015 Howard Weinstein
2014 Bob Hamman
2013 Benedicte Cronier and Sylvie Willard
2012 Michael Kamil
2011 Betty Ann Kennedy
2010 Roy Welland
2009 Peter Boyd
2008 Giorgio Duboin
2007 Seymon Deutsch
2006 Ralph Cohen
2005 Nick Nickell
2004 Lynn Deas
2003 Larry Cohen
2002 Rose Meltzer
2001 Paul Soloway
