RIP Eric Schiller

All Things Chess
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From Schiller’s Facebook page

(Hal Bogner here, posting to Eric’s page.) I’m sorry to have to share with everyone that Eric has passed away, after a pair of health crises over the last week or so. He was OK until a week ago Friday, but hospitalized and stabilized Saturday, and still all here before surgery Monday to receive a pacemaker. However, a massive stroke Monday night left him paralyzed and unresponsive, and he passed away Saturday afternoon, with family and friends who had gathered since midweek.

I’ve lost one of my closest friends ever, of almost 40 years, and I’m sure many here share this loss with his mom and five sisters and brothers. I hope many anecdotes can be shared here, and we can celebrate his great spirit, which he maintained even in the years since his initial losses due to diabetes.

For the moment, I’d like to leave everyone with what IM and medical doctor Anthony Saidy summed up more succinctly than I ever could:

Eric died 11/3/18 in San Jose, CA from cardiovascular disease after a long wasting illness.

A unique chess figure, linguist by training, asst. to Kasparov, FIDE master, author of innumerable books, organizer, teacher, of indomitable will and optimism till the end.

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I went to his facebook page, but did not see anything more recent than last year. Maybe it’s because I’m a facebook novice? I would like to post something, but don’t know how. I could post something here.

(Added later) Oh, I probably would have to be a facebook friend of his to see what Hal et al. posted. Too late! I’ll write something or other.

(Added still later) There is a short article up at Chess Life Online about Schiller, and it says that there will be a longer one in January, so one article or the other would be a better place to post reminiscences than here.

BTW I am aware that some people will be having problems with “speak no ill of the dead” in his case. But, believe me, I owe him a lot, and when I knew him, he was a decent guy, hard working, helpful in many ways, and good to talk to.

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Many good memories. Good Bye old friend.