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CHESTER ZAWACKI Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for CHESTER ZAWACKI
Brian Kozin
July 12, 2011
I remember Chester well,my wife Sue & I owned the No Exit Cafe,where Chester first started playing Go,for 22 yrs & for many of those years Chester was there twice a week like clockwork,he also came for the music for the groups that he really liked.Chester was one of the kindest most tolerant people I have known & is one of the people I miss the most from those years.
My deepest condolences to his family,he will truly be missed by everyone.
Brian Kozin
Roy Laird
July 12, 2011
Chester and I used to meet across the board just about every year in the US Open. Like others, I experienced his open, interested, engaging manner. He once me, "Go saved my life." He had had a heart attack and didn't know what to do with himself -- then he found go, and once again all was well with the world. I'm going to miss him a lot. -- Roy Laird, New York, NY
July 12, 2011
I remember Chester well from my days in Chicago. My deepest condolences. He was a thoughtful and pleasant man -- and he will be missed.
Shai Simonson (Sharon, MA)
Bob Gilman
July 12, 2011
I knew Chester from attending the annual Go Congresses. He was an energetic player and socializer, and I was always happy to see him. I recall one of his stories about nicknames at the Korean go club he played at: "They had a ton of Cho's and a ton of Lee's so they all had nicknames. There was one guy who once sat there playing for 48 solid hours until his wife came and pulled him out by the ear. He was "Two Day Cho."
Dolores and Bob Barber with Chester at dinner
Pauline Pohl
July 12, 2011
Words can't express how much I will miss Chester. He came over to my house one afternoon per week to play go with me for the past fifteen years. He always parked in my garage so his car would stay dry and cool in summer and warm in winter. His enthusiasm for the game never faded, even though we went from playing up to five games per week early on and ended with one or two games as he lost some of his stamina.
He was the kind of friend who would help out by driving me home from the car repair shop or by taking me to the airport. He would come over and feed our fish when we traveled.
He was like a family member to me. One time when he was in the intensive care section of the hospital, he called me and said he really wanted to play a game of go. I took my magnetic board and set off to find him. A doctor asked me where I was going and I told him to see Chester Zawacki and told him what bed he was in. The doctor asked if I was a family member. I knew there was only one answer that would let me get to him with the go board Chester so badly wanted to play on. I said, "I'm his daughter." and the doctor showed me where to find him. When we played, he was happy, but weak, and he made what he called "a Chester move" and resigned. I left to let him rest, and when I talked to him next he said (his son) Ray couldn't believe I would beat him on his death bed. (It was about five years before he died.) I asked Chester if he would have felt better if I had thrown the game, because it would never have occurred to me to do so. He said if I ever did that, he would know he was in trouble. I never did lose on purpose, and when he did win, he was really, really happy.
It will be a long time before I stop thinking I need to get home by noon on Wednesday to be there before Chester arrives. For all of the years we played, he only forgot to come once. When I called his house and there was no answer, I drove over and looked in the windows afraid he had suffered a heart attack or something. When I saw that the garage was empty, I called the Korean Go Club, and sure enough he was there playing go. That’s what he loved to do!
Bob Barber
June 22, 2011
Chester was one of my first Go teachers. He was a mainstay at the No Exit Cafe for decades. Of late, he's been playing daily in Arlington Heights. He always said, "All I want is more than my share." And he told his opponents, "Trust me." Some of us did.
Rest in peace.
June 21, 2011
We were sorry to read of Chester's passing in the Tribune. Bill remembers counting collection money at St. Gertrude's with Chester when he filled in for someone in Bill's group.
Our sincerest condolences to all your family at this sad time.
Bill, Justine, Mark, Scott and Lynn (Hammond) Marinko
June 20, 2011
Chester Zawacki was my favorite scrabble opponent. The Albers clan has many fond memories of Chester from Silver Lake as little kids to Legend Lake as adults. We all know about his five o-clock sharp stomach dinner alert. Our prayers go out to Virginia, Paul, Corrine, and Ray for this sad departure.
Nancianne Albers Jensen
David Rohde
June 20, 2011
My condolences to Chester's family. I will always remember him from the go community, having played him several times and watching several of his games with Mr. Lee. I wish his family well during these hard times.
Lorrie & Jim Flanagan
June 20, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time.
Stallings
June 20, 2011
My deepest condolences to the family of Chester Zawacki. May you find comfort in this scripture at Romans 12:12 where it says to "Rejoice in hope. endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer.' Rejoice because you have the hoope of seeing him again, endure so that you can recover from this, and pray for God to help you to do so.
Keith Arnold
June 20, 2011
I am not sure Chester and I ever played a game together, but he is one of my favorite players - a charming man who my wife always looked forward to seeing. He recently called me with a Civil War question, and we had a nice conversation. Very sad to hear of his passing.
Ann Ciezazdlo
June 20, 2011
Very sorry to hear about your dad Ray. Prayers are with you and your family.
Korean Go Club, June 4 2011
Mark Rubenstein
June 20, 2011
I'm so sorry to hear of Chester's passing. He will be missed in the Go community. I saw him at the Chicago tournament earlier this month. He was cheerful and friendly, as always! My condolences go out to his family and friends.
John & Sara Swafford
June 20, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
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