Hermine Baron, 83, one of America's top-ranked female bridge players, died of cancer in Los Angeles on Sept. 27.
For the past 22 years, Mrs. Baron of Los Angeles had more master points than any other female player, ending with 22,645 and the title of grand life master. From 1975 to 1983, she was ranked second among all players by the American Contract Bridge League, and was 10th when she died.
In 1964 and 1970, she won the McKenney Trophy, awarded for winning the most points in a year. In 1964, she set a points record.
She was a member of the United States Women's Team that took third place in the 1968 world championships. She competed in the World Women's Pairs Championship in 1978 and 1982. She won the Life Master Pairs in 1966 and five other titles: the Women's Teams in 1964 and 1968; the Women's Pairs in 1968 and 1982, and the Life Master Women's Pairs in 1963.
She was born in Omaha, Neb., and stricken with polio at 13, after which she used a wheelchair.
Jhan Robbins, 76, a free-lance writer and the author of a dozen books, died of prostate cancer on Sept. 27 at his home in Columbia, S.C.
Robbins's articles appeared in Reader's Digest, McCall's, Redbook, This Week and other magazines. He began his career as an editor of pulp fiction Westerns and mysteries.
His books include "Bess and Harry: An American Love Story" (1980), about the Trumans; and "Everybody's Man" (1985), a biography of James Stewart.
Pub Date: 10/06/96
