Mark Carl Diesen

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Mark Diesen Obituary

DIESEN, MARK CARL - age 51 of Conroe, Texas native of Buffalo New York, passed away suddenly December 9, 2008 in Conroe, Texas. He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked as a reservoir engineer for Shell Oil, Pennzoil and Noble Energy. Mark was a World Junior Chess Champion in 1976, the US Junior Co-Champion, the Louisiana State Champion in 1986, 1987, 1988, Texas State Champion, Southwestern Open Champion, and an active chess coach in Houston, Texas and online. He is survived by his wife, Melinda Diesen of Conroe, Texas; daughters and sons-in-law, Gina and Travis Perkins of Knoxville, Amy and Daniel Smith of Houston, TX, and Sarah Diesen of Conroe, TX; mother, Marjorie Diesen; sister and brother-in-law, Laura and J.C Butler all of Bristow, VA; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Joyce McGlothin of Knoxville; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Meredith Averill-McGlothin of Ossining, NY; several nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be 1:00 P.M. Saturday at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension with Rev. Dr. Howard J. Hess officiating. Interment to follow at Highland Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the U.S. Chess Trust, PO Box 838, Wallkill, NY 12589, 800-388-5464. Friends may call at their convenience at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. www.rosemortuary.com

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Published by Knoxville News Sentinel from Dec. 26 to Dec. 27, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Mark Diesen

10 Entries

Denia Delaflor

January 16, 2009

We were shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Mark Diesen's sudden passing. He was my son's chess coach 2 years ago. A gentle man. Rest in peace, Mark.You will be missed.

Coach Mark Diesen with the Xiang Sisters

Qiu Yun Dai

January 14, 2009

Mark Diesen was our daughters' chess coach for more than three years. The photo attached was taken after our girls were back from the 2006 World Youth Chess Championship. Coach Mark Diesen was a nice person, a brilliant chess player and coach. Our girls learnt a great deal of chess through his encouragement and world class knowledge. He is truly missed.

Jeff Kastner

January 12, 2009

OMG, I was shocked to read that Mark passed away so young. I just happened to be surfing Wikipedia and read the tragic news. It's been about 3 decades since I led Mark and a talented group of young chess stars (incl The Fed, Rohde, Henley, Tisdall, Ken Regan, etc) on an exhibition tour of Scandinavia. My heart goes out to his family and I hope to see full coverage of his chess career in a future issue of Chess Life.

chris Wong

January 10, 2009

Mr Diesen was my son's coach. He was such a nice person and was a great chessmaster. We will miss him very much.

C Wong

January 10, 2009

Mr. Diesen coached my son; he was a brillaint person; he will be very much missed in Houston.
M.Iyer

Anna Arnone

January 5, 2009

A Reminiscence

YES, thou art gone! and never more
Thy sunny smile shall gladden me;
But I may pass the old church door,
And pace the floor that covers thee.

May stand upon the cold, damp stone,
And think that, frozen, lies below
The lightest heart that I have known,
The kindest I shall ever know.

Yet, though I cannot see thee more,
'Tis still a comfort to have seen;
And though thy transient life is o'er,
'Tis sweet to think that thou hast been;

To think a soul so near divine,
Within a form so angel fair,
United to a heart like thine,
Has gladdened once our humble sphere.

By Anne Bronte
The Poetry Foundation

Jerry Ross

January 5, 2009

I worked with Mark on the Free Internet Chess Server. I am very sorry for your loss.

David Flynn

January 4, 2009

Sorry to hear of Mark's passing away. Mark served as a volunteer administrator on the Free Internet Chess Server up to 2005 and will be missed by those who knew him - David Flynn ('DAV')

Floyd Boudreaux jr

January 2, 2009

I am very sorry to hear, belatedly, about Mark's all too early passing. I first met and played him at the 1969 Maryland Junior Championship, which he won at age 12! We in Maryland all watched his rapid progress in chess and were thrilled when he won the 1976 World Junior Championship !! I played Mark 2 more times, once in 1970 and last in 1981. I think he moved out of state shortly after that. I had the pleasure of meeting him again, though very briefly, at the 1996 U.S. Open in Alexandria, Virginia. He was always a warm and gentle soul. Rest in Peace, Mark.

Trish Paakkonen

January 1, 2009

We are so sad to hear about Mark's death.

Trish and Timo Paakkonen and family
FINLAND, formerly from Galveston TX

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