Woodbury bridge expert is outstanding senior citizen

• Jesse Crane

Jesse Crane won the Washington County Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year award for his volunteer work and building of the local Bridge Club. Staff photo by Riham Feshir

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A Woodbury man who can teach bridge in 10 minutes has been named the Washington County Outstanding Senior Citizen of the Year.

Jesse Crane, president of the Woodbury Bridge Club, will be honored and presented the award at the Washington County Fair Aug. 3.

Crane was responsible for leading the Bridge Club and getting it all set up and organized to grow to what it has become today.

He helped raise money for the food shelf in honor of a member who was known for her bridge playing skills as well.

“When she got ill and passed away, somebody needed to step up in her absence,” he said. “We built the group up from 10 to 12 people up to around 50 on a Monday.”

The group meets at Central Park in a lower level room reserved for bridge playing every week on Monday mornings.

Club member Carol Seifert nominated Crane for the award.

She said Crane has worked tirelessly to expand, improve and include all ages and diversity in the Woodbury Bridge Club.

He will soon teach teens to play bridge at the local YMCA, she said. He also developed an intergenerational bridge course offered to teens, grandparents and parents through the Woodbury Parks and Recreation Department.

“His vision is for all to have an exciting, warm and inviting place to find friendships and play the game,” Seifert said. “Jesse has generously donated not only his time and talents to our Woodbury bridge group, but also has given money for which we cannot thank him enough.”

But the humble 71-year-old, who also volunteers for Valley Creek Church, said he “would’ve never nominated myself, that’s for sure.

“But I have put a tremendous amount of effort into building (the club) up.”

Wearing a white T-shirt with a queen of hearts, nine of diamonds and an ace of clubs, Crane said he also will be teaching the game at the Washington County Fair this year.

“That will be fun,” he said.

But 10 minutes of bridge will never be enough, he added. The game is complicated and exciting all at the same time, he said.

Which is why Crane said one of his strengths is the ability to write bridge lessons.

“It’s the No. 1 card game in the world,” Crane said. “It’s a very enjoyable game to play. You never ever learn everything there is to learn about the game.”

Crane will also be honored at the Minnesota State Fair with other metro county winners.

Tags: area news, news, woodbury