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Canasta

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

I Am Collingswood

Walter Schlitz and the Curious Case of the Collingswood Card Game Controversy

The most recent subject 'I Am Collingswood' is a cribbage fan—not canasta, as initially reported—but our story helped him discover a relative in town.

Readers of my column "I Am Collingswood" may remember my latest installment on the subject of the irrepressible Walter Schlitz, a 99-year-old Collingswood resident in search of a canasta partner. It turns out I had Mr. Schlitz's game of choice all wrong: He is a cribbage player, and doesn't much care for canasta at all. He set me straight in an email about a week after the article was published. “The game is CRIBBAGE not Canasta,” Schlitz wrote. “Must I now learn to play it??” I'm not familiar with either game, so I met up with him to learn some more about the finer points of cribbage. Schlitz produced a leather carrying case about the size of a pack of cigarettes. Within were pegs and a scoreboard that he says are used in conjunction with…

In this Article:

I Am Collingswood: Walter Schlitz and Dig This

Fred Crown

6:06 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013

I met Walter about 2 years ago while doing some work for my friend who it turns out is Walters neighbor. Definitely one of the nicest most interesting people I have had the pleasure to have had a beer and conversation with in my life. Hope the new car is suiting you well Walter!   more ›

Thursday, January 31, 2013

I Am Collingswood

I Am Collingswood: Walter Schlitz

Walter Schlitz landed in Collingswood on New Year’s Day 1975, moving in “with the lady there on Knight Avenue” after a honeymoon. She passed on in 2001, but he’s still here. And he can’t find anybody to play canasta with.

My meeting with Walter Schlitz began with a piece of loose-leaf upon which he had written the following three paragraphs: Walter N. Schlitz, born December 23, 1913 in the Cramer Hill section of Camden, NJ. Mother died in 1915 and father died in 1918 leaving 4 sons to need new home. I was taken by a friendly family to be raised as one of their own. Went to Camden High School until I finished the Junior year, at which time it was necessary for me to find a job to help out at home. Probably 16 years old. My first job was at RCA's in Camden as a messenger in the mailing department. After that experience, I sent to work at Petty Island for Cities Service Oil, Co as a laborer. That led to different and better jobs on the island until WWII …

Jay D.Mack

6:54 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Walt - my Army buddie, I think you are great also. J.D. Mack   more ›

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