Amy Shumway

Amy Shumway, a fun-loving mom, wise-cracking friend, and avid bridge player, died on Friday August 7th at the age of 95.

Amy was born in Evanston, Illinois, on July 7th, 1925, to Frederick Leslie Chapman, and Florence Smith Chapman and moved to the Madison area in 1930 living in the in the Village of Maple Bluff her entire life until moving downtown to Capitol Lakes in 2018.

Amy went to Wisconsin High where a guy named Bill Shumway spotted her and said, “That’s the girl I’m gonna marry!”  But before he could seal the deal, Amy went off to Smith College in Northampton Massachusetts as Bill headed off to the Navy.  With all the men at war, Amy found no co-ed mixers at all-girls Smith and decided she may as well transfer to the University of Wisconsin. Back home she joined Delta Gamma sorority, and finished her degree in mathematics.  When Bill returned from the war they married in November 1946 and raised a family of five children – which has since expanded to include 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Amy studied computer science at Madison Area Technical College in the 1970s and then went on to work as an accountant in retail stores including Rupert Cornelius, Insignia, and Steve Gerhardt’s Sports Center.

Amy loved all games, but her true passion was bridge.  Thursday night games were fun, but she got serious with duplicate bridge at the Madison Bridge Club, becoming a Life Master in the 1980s and making a slew of friends while racking up points and playing tournaments along the way.

Amy was a social animal - talking to every grocery clerk, hair stylist, and milkman like an old friend and doling out advice if she thought they needed it.  She loved sailing and motorboats, chocolate and coffee, and especially loved staying up as late as possible to have a good chat with her kids or grandkids.  She may not have been  the best athlete, but she was always up for a game of  golf or bowling just to spend time with friends, especially if there was a hamburger or gin and tonic waiting at the end.

Amy is survived by four of her children, Carol Silva (Edibaldo) of Omaha, David (Regan) of Orlando, Mary “Muffy” Steinhoff (David) of Denver, and Mark (Naomi) of Madison.  She was preceded in death by her husband William, her son Frederick, and her sister Frances Olbrich.

A virtual memorial service will be held on Friday August 28th at 11am Central Time.

Please email amyshumwaymemorial@gmail.com to receive a zoom invitation.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Olbrich Botanical Gardens.