Obituary
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Bazemore of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (1974-2019)
Vincent Bazemore, Jr.Photo from Vince’s Voice The Chess Drum regrets to inform the chess community of the passing of 39-year old Vincent John Bazemore, Jr. on May 27th, 2019. The United States Chess Federation announced his passing at the Delegate’s Meeting at the 2019 U.S. Open. He was born September…
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USCF Life Master James E. Gwyn, Sr. (1930-2018)
When Orrin Hudson informed The Chess Drum of the passing of James E. Gwyn, Sr., he recounted the mentorship that he received from the New Jersey resident. Gwyn was months shy of his 88th birthday. A U.S.C.F. Life Master, Gwyn had not played in a chess tournament since 2007, but…
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A King in Harlem: Peter Roberts (1952-2018)
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR PETER SIMON ROBERTS (January 18, 1952 – August 9, 2018) Funeral Information Unity Funeral Home Harlem, New York, USA 126th Street and 8th Avenue Thursday, September 6, 2018 Viewing: 5pm to 6pm (service afterwards) Recently, it was announced on Facebook Chess Connections that Peter Roberts had passed…
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Judge George Leighton, chess veteran, passes at 105
We have lost another legend, a sage, a walking library, legal scholar and an avowed chess enthusiast. George Neves Leighton has passed away on June 6, 2018 at the age of 105 at Veteran’s Hospital in his home state of Massachusetts. The cause was pneumonia. He practiced law in the…
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Sammy of NYC blitz fame dead at 55
Samuel “Sammy” Barton, an icon of street chess, passed away after battling serious health challenges. He was 55. Sammy was known as a mainstay in the greater New York scene and is considered to be a legendary figure. Called “Bubba” by his sisters, he attended Lincoln High School in Coney…
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Homegoing for Herminio Baez Jr. (1954-2018)
Herminio Baez On yesterday I received the unfortunate news that Herminio Baez, Jr. passed away on Wednesday morning May 2nd. He was 63. The proud chess-playing father left was survived by his loving soul mate of 38 years Daniella Baez, four children including his three sons Antonio, Steven, Chris and…
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Kenneth Clayton, chess pioneer (1938-2017)
“When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.” ~ African Proverb The chess world lost another pioneer the other day when National Master Kenneth Roger Clayton passed away on December 26th. The 79-year old Maryland resident was a person of consequence: a scholar, chess master, loving father/husband…
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Emory Tate: chess savant, warrior (1958-2015)
A lone lion wanders afar in the wilderness, no longer part of the pride Once gleaming, accepted, a beautiful beast, now having been cast aside No chance for part in coordinated hunt, this one can’t run very fast Nature holds no place, and faltering, it seems this beast just won’t…
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IM Emory Tate has passed away at 56
Emory Andrew Tate Jr. (December 27, 1958 – October 17, 2015) The Internet has ignited with the news of IM Emory Tate’s confirmed passing. A tactician par excellence, Tate was participating in the Sam Shankland Open tournament in California when he fell ill and collapsed. After receiving first aid, he…
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