Tom Winiata - gentleman and card shark

Updated with funeral service information.

The Waikato Bays committee and wider bridge community were sad to hear about the passing of Tom Winiata after a short illness.

Tom Winiata: Tom Winiata (left) alongside regular partner Tom Henwood

Tom was born in Te Puke and as a child attended Taihape, Te Puke and Otahuhu primary schools going on to Wesley in Rotorua for his secondary education. His Bridge career began in 1968 at University where it was popular at the time. His early years of card playing were with his family playing 500.

He represented NZ in the open team in 1970 with Vil Gravis and in latter years had also been selected for the Waikato bays IP team on multiple occasions most recently In 2019 playing in the open team (pictured here with his regular partner Tom Henwood. )

Lesley Quilty a long time bridge partner and friend will remember Tom as the consummate gentleman at the bridge table - very reserved and a canny bridge player that often had the oppositions wondering at the end of a board whether they had been duped!

Until recently Tom was an active organic dairy farmer outside Rotorua. I played a couple of times with Tom Winiata in the teams at Congress and was impressed that he managed to milk in the morning then commute to Hamilton every day over the week and still play good bridge. Although there was the odd time when Tom disappeared for a quick nap at the lunch break and was late returning to the table.

He was happily married to an understanding non-bridge playing spouse Judy since 1972, and they have over the years travelled widely and lived in Sydney, Hamburg and England. Sadly Judy passed away earlier this year but their legacy continues through their five sons.

The funeral is on Tuesday 27 October at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 10 Rimu Street, Glenholm, Rotorua at 11.00 am to be followed by tea/coffee at the Rotorua Bridge Club at Neil Hunt Park. Wiremu has advised me that if anyone wishes to pay their respects to Tom and the whanau that they are welcome to visit Tom's home on either Sunday 25 October or Monday 26 October at 61 Barber Road West, Kapenga, Rotorua.