George Coffin

Who was George Coffin?

George Sturgis Coffin was an American writer and publisher of books on bridge and other games and a distributor of related books and supplies. He was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, and died at Waltham–Weston Hospital near his home in Belmont.

A descendant of Tristrum's son Stephen Coffin, he was a 1928 graduate of Harvard and 1931 winner of The Bridge World international problem solving contest. He was also co-founder of the American Bridge Teachers Association.

Coffin wrote more than 200 books that included bridge, poker, cribbage and other card games. At the bridge table he was known for his exceptional endplay technique resulting in his nickname "Endplays" Coffin, after his classic books of the same title. He also wrote about fungi, on which he was an authority. He is survived by a daughter, Harriette Johnson of Shelburne Falls, MA, and two grandchildren.