Richard L. Frey, 83; Master at Bridge

Richard Lincoln Frey, a famous contract bridge master of the 1930s and ‘40s, has died of cancer. He was 83. Frey, who lived in New York City, died Monday at Calvary Hospital.

In 1930, when contract bridge was just becoming popular, he won the Goldman Pairs at the Eastern Tournament. From 1933 to 1935, he was the fifth man in the Four Aces bridge team that included Howard Schenken, David Burnstine, Michael Gottlieb and Oswald Jacoby. Jacoby, the last of the original four, died in 1984.

During Frey’s career, he won six national bridge tournaments and was a runner-up in seven. He was nominated as a life master in 1936, the year the rank was introduced.

His six national tournaments included both of bridge’s major knockout events, the Vanderbilt and the Spingold.

Frey served as writer, editor and business manager of Kem Cards, an early manufacturer of plastic playing cards, and wrote a syndicated daily bridge column, articles and several books on bridge.

He also served as public relations director for the American Contract Bridge League.