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Danny Kopec Obituary
Professor of Computer Science at Brooklyn College, author, entrepreneur and International Master of chess, Dr. Danny Kopec, died at age 62 years from pancreatic cancer. A chess prodigy and Master at 17, he earned his Bachelor's from Dartmouth College and PhD from University of Edinburgh in Machine Intelligence. A prolific author, his chess products included eight books and nine feature length instructional videos. He was a proponent of the chess opening, The Kopec System, and co-creator of the influential Bratko-Kopec Test for measuring computer chess ability. He ran Kopec's Chess Camp for over 2 decades. He co-authored textbooks in the area of artificial intelligence and over one hundred academic articles. Danny is survived by his wife Sylvia, son David, his sister Patinka, his stepson Oliver, nephews, and fondly remembered by thousands of former students and fans. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org)
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Memories and Condolences
for Danny Kopec
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Mike Weiss
March 24, 2024
Was looking at the chess games.com website and came across Danny, whom I remember from playing in NY tournaments in the 70s and 80s. I never played Danny and actually never met him. My loss apparently. He leaves a legacy of which anyone could be proud.
Daniel Reinharth
June 8, 2023
I still think of Danny frequently. One topic of regular conversation was his beloved New York Yankees. I learned that his preference was to kvetch. The Yankees could have won ten games in a row, but he'd complain about Robinson Cano not hustling down the line to first base.
Roland Gehrels
June 6, 2023
Today Magnus Carlsen, the greatest chess player of all time, played the Kopec System in the Norway Chess tournament against Alireza Firouzja. RIP Danny Kopec.
Daniel Reinharth
June 8, 2022
Danny remains in my thoughts, when I think of chess, AI, sports, or when I simply need a friend. My 5th medical murder mystery novel (close to completion) will be dedicated to him.
Daniel Reinharth
June 8, 2021
Danny remains regularly in my thoughts. His love of chess, his love of teaching, his love of the NY Yankees, and especially his great friendship and generosity.
Roland Gehrels
January 24, 2021
Dr Kopec was my chess coach at the University of Maine in 1989. His love and enthusiasm for chess was infectious and he was genuinely interested in players of all levels. I played in a team with Jarod Bryan and others. Danny encouraged us to compete at the 1989 Pan-Am Intercollegiate Chess Championships in Salt-Lake City where we won a prize. These are fond and treasured memories. I am sorry to learn of Dr Kopec's passing.
Student
October 21, 2020
Dr. Kopec was truly a remarkable and compassionate professor. I was his student at university. of Maine. I still remember his comment to me that "you have lot of good stuff in your head". Till today that comment given me strength, when I am down. May he rest in peace.
Jon Matthew Farber
June 9, 2020
Danny also remains in my thoughts, and I miss him still. Similar to a previous guest, I too chose to pay tribute to Danny through literature, with a short story (accepted, not yet published) in which the main character, named Danny, outsmarts a number of characters whose names are all those of famous chess players
Daniel Reinharth
June 8, 2020
Danny is frequently in my thoughts. We shared chess and the Yankees, but most of all a life-long friendship. He was very sociable, and would have found physical distancing hard, but I'm sure he'd have been actively zoom-ing, and would have been super-supportive of everyone he cared about. Best wishes to his family, too.
Daniel Reinharth
June 11, 2019
I have bittersweet feelings about the success of Danny's beloved NY Yankees so far in 2019, as I know he would have enjoyed it (while finding players to criticize!). I'm planning to give tributes to Danny in one of my upcoming mystery novels, which will be set at a chess tournament (he gave me permission).
Student
September 2, 2018
Dr. Danny Kopec is truly a remarkable professor and friend. Everyone who has interacted with Dr. Kopec has been lucky to be part of his wonderful perspective on life and work. He is missed greatly. We hope we can live up to his amazing generosity and spirit.
MT Chang
March 15, 2017
I met Danny in CUNY Publication Fellowship back in the early 2000. He was a kind individual with tremendous apatite in Chess. In three months, he helped our group mature and developed. I tried to contact him in the last few months, and I got no answer. Later I found out about this devastated news. He will be forever missed! Danny RIP.
Glenn Budzinski
July 6, 2016
You never failed to stop and chat, no matter how busy you were. We will miss you, Danny.
Daniel Reinharth
June 21, 2016
Danny was a caring and loyal friend. I first met him when he was a legend in NY high school chess circles...when that meant something. He quickly won me over with his enthusiastic and generous nature. He ascended to the heights of two careers, chess and AI (playing chess, writing and teaching both chess and AI). He loved playing and watching sports (including complaining about his beloved Yankees!). I will miss him greatly.
Margarita & John Lanides
June 19, 2016
Danny - we were privileged to know you and your family as friends. We will miss you. Our deepest sympathy to Sylvia and David,
Margarita & John Lanides & Family
Dale Gibbs
June 18, 2016
You will be missed.!!!
Jon Farber
June 18, 2016
I first met him in high school as
another (and vastly superior) chess player, and he remained one of my best friends from then on, through our common interests over the years including chess, tennis, and AI. I will miss him.
June 17, 2016
I was very sad to learn yesterday that Danny had passed away. He and I often (probably too often!) used to play chess at the Edinburgh Machine Intelligence unit when we were both there. I was always annoyed by his Bd3, but, naturally enough - as I now realise - I never found anything against it.
It is strange to have that old, happy, but now also sad, memory come up again after all those years. I send Danny's family and friends my sincere condolences.
With best wishes,
Gordon Plotkin
Harold Scott
June 17, 2016
Dr. Kopec, may you rest in peace! THank you for your wonderful contributions to the royal game of chess.
Seb Botta
June 16, 2016
RIP, my friend!
Bob Whiteside
June 15, 2016
I am so sorry for your loss. Danny was a true gentlemen, an enthusiastic teacher, and a gifted chess player. He will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Su
June 15, 2016
My sincerest condolences to your family. Losing a dear loved one is never easy. May you find comfort in the words found at Jeremiah 29:11.
June 15, 2016
I'm so sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort hear your heartbroken prayers and provide you with much needed comfort during the difficult days and weeks ahead. Ps. 91:15
roger morin
June 15, 2016
a well loved person.r.i.p.
George Mirijanian
June 14, 2016
Danny Kopec made significant contributions to chess with his writing, lecturing, teaching and playing. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and respected him. May he rest in peace.
Randy Bauer
June 14, 2016
Danny was highly respected and admired as a chess player, author and teacher. Over the years, I learned a lot from him - and that is the mark of a life well lived.
Hangin
June 14, 2016
I worked with Danny and tony rook doing chess broadcasting on chess fm. I enjoyed Danny's chess books. He was a very instructive. I will miss him.
hangin
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