- Date Of Birth: October 14, 1947
- Date Of Death: September 29, 2019
- State: Colorado
Jan Penn Janitschke of Littleton, Colorado, died on Sunday, September 29, 2019, at the age of 71. He was born in Chicago in 1947 to Robert and Ethel Janitschke. He is survived by his wife of thirty-five years, Bonnie Smith as well as his step-daughter, Simone Bober and step-grandson, Samuel Bober.
Jan attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, where he was president of the chess club, concertmaster of the orchestra, and won state prizes for both piano and violin.
After high school, Jan attended Colorado College and graduated with degrees in math and music. He chose to focus on his bridge career, and was a national champion, winning four national titles: the Life Masters Men’s Pairs with his brother Craig; the Grand National Teams with Craig, Dick Lesko, and Jack Bittman; the Grand National Pairs with Dick Reed; and the National Men’s Swiss with Mike Smolen. Over his fifty-year career, he won or placed in multiple regional events, playing with his many clients and also his wife Bonnie. He was the highest-rated Grand Life Master in the state of Colorado for more than thirty years. He produced educational materials with bridge teacher and close friend Norma Sands. He also mentored and played with many newer players to help them learn and move up in the game, achieving considerable success with his clients at the regional level as well as the local level. Jan was always available to answer questions and discuss hands with other players. At the table, Jan was noted for the depth of his analysis, his quiet and gentle demeanor, and his quick dry wit.
Jan was an avid cyclist and took full advantage of the Colorado terrain, once biking from Denver to Aspen and back with the Heart Cycle Club.
One of Jan’s great loves was classical piano. Early in his adult life he worked as a rehearsal pianist for a ballet company. He played seriously throughout his life, and he was able to play up until the last few months. His favorite composers were Chopin, Shostakovich, and Prokofiev.
