In Memoriam IM-ICCF Valer Vasile Demian

Sunday, November 18, 2018: † 2018

December 15, 1934 - November 16, 2018

My father was a chess player. He took an amateur level family passion for the game to a correspondence chess national Championship title (1968), three ICCF Coppa Latina Europe titles (1st, 2nd and 3rd editions) with team Romania (was team captain during the 3rd edition), a 3rd place with team Romania in the OTB 3rd Blind Chess Olympiad Weymouth 1968, a tournament where he finished 1st on board 1, plus an IM-ICCF title (1975). There are many more milestones of various importance I am overlooking now; apologies dad!

He was a big supporter of ICCF, promoting it both locally, nationally and internationally. He cherished his friendship with Paul Diaconescu and they exchanged over the years many ideas and initiatives. He played exclusively by post and made many a friend around the World. A number of them felt closer and they exchanged several letters and postcards during and after their games. You know who you are and I would not want to miss any of you by listing names. I thank you for your friendship in his name!

He had a few regrets such as not being selected to play in the ICCF Olympiad Final 11th edition, his highly controversial participation in the Markov Memorial 1987-1992 (Russia) and his participation in one of the 1st World Cups (preliminaries) by post. In the end he made peace with it and hopefully those involved made peace with it too. His chess legacy will remain forever. We miss him already.

Valer Eugen Demian

Vancouver, BC, Canada

November 17, 2018