Corinne Brandon Gellman Kirkham of Leawood, KS, passed away August 9, 2019 after a battle with COPD.  She was born in Manhattan, New York, on June 30, 1936 as the daughter of Jean and Emil Brandon.

Having received her Bachelor’s degree in French, her first job was teaching French in Alabama.

Then she began her second vocation as a programmer and technical team manager.  In that position, in the mid-80s, Corinne was the only key personnel on a multi-million dollar contract for a company that did contracting for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Her third and final “job” took advantage of her life-long passion…her love of playing tournament bridge.  Corinne and her husband Jim Kirkham were professional bridge players for many years.  They travelled across the country and around the world.  She was known for her wicked sense of humor and she was famous for her speedy play, as she was always trying to complete the round early so that she could get in a quick smoke before the next round started.  Many friendships started out of those trips between rounds.

She served on the National Board of Directors of the American Contract Bridge League.

Corinne and Jim were the only married couple to both amass more than 25,000 master points.

Corinne was an avid reader, devouring mysteries as quickly as she got them and always searching for the next book, sharing them with her group of reading friends.

She enjoyed lunches with her Red Hat Ladies Club.

Corinne was preceeded by her husband Jim, who passed in 2011.

She is survived by her children Jeff Gellman of Jacksonville Beach, FL, Matt and Cynthia Gellman of Hixson, TN, Adair Gellman and Vincent Bartone of Ashburn, VA, her grandson Brandon Gellman of Jacksonville Beach, FL, her sister Sherri Huffman of Accokeek, MD, and her ex-husband Len Gellman of Leawood, KS.

Corinne requested that if anyone wishes to do anything in her memory that they make a contribution to one of the following charities:  Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, or Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

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