William Root, 78; Won 14 National Bridge Titles
William Root, 78, a leading contract bridge player who was also a teacher and author on the game, died of cancer Monday in Boca Raton, Fla.
Root was born in Miami and attended the University of Miami. From 1953 to 1995, he won 14 national titles, and on two occasions nearly won a world title.
His national titles included Vanderbilt Knockout Teams four times and the Spingold Knockout Teams three times.
Root finished second in the World Team Olympiad in 1968 and second in the Bermuda Bowl in 1967.
He taught bridge in New York and Florida for four decades. He made several teaching videos and was the author of the books “Common Sense Bidding,” “The ABC’s of Bridge,” “How to Play a Bridge Hand” and “How to Defend a Bridge Hand.”
He was also a contributing editor to the Cromwell-Collier Encyclopedia and the Official Encyclopedia of Bridge.
He was inducted into the American Contract Bridge League’s Hall of Fame in 1997.
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