RIP - Henry Morgentaler

[Hugh Brodie]

Dr. Henry Morgentaler passed away today at the age of 90. Better known for his abortions than his chess, he was an active player in Montreal in the late 1970's and early 1980's - it is said that he studied chess a lot while in jail in 1975.

He was a regular around the Montreal chess cafe scene, and played in a few tournaments. He played 44 FQE-rated games prior to 1982 - achieving a rating of 1872. 232 blitz games with a rating of 1458 (between 1980 and 1984).

Three of his games appear in CanBase - one of which he beat Ignas Zalys in 72 moves.

[Event "Estival"]
[Site "Montreal CAN"]
[Date "1980.06.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morgentaler, Henry"]
[Black "Zalys, Ignas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B62"]
[WhiteElo "1768"]
[BlackElo "1889"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "1980.06.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Bb3
Bd7 9. Qd2 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. O-O-O Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Qxd4 13. Rxd4 Bc6 14. f4
Be7 15. Re1 e5 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Rd3 O-O 18. Nd5 Bg5+ 19. Kb1 Rad8 20. g3 Rd7
21. Rf3 Kh7 22. Ref1 Bd8 23. Rf5 Bxd5 24. Bxd5 Bf6 25. h4 b5 26. a3 Rb8 27. Rh1
Kg6 28. g4 Rb6 29. Rf3 a5 30. Rb3 Bd8 31. Rf3 Rf6 32. Rxf6+ Kxf6 33. Rf1+ Kg6
34. Bc6 Rc7 35. Bxb5 Bxh4 36. Be8 Re7 37. Bc6 Bg3 38. Rg1 Bf2 39. Rg2 Be3 40.
b4 axb4 41. axb4 Bd4 42. c4 Ra7 43. Ra2 Rc7 44. Ra6 Kg5 45. Bd5 Kxg4 46. b5 h5
47. b6 Bxb6 48. Rxb6 h4 49. Rb7 Rc5 50. Rxf7 g5 51. Be6+ Kg3 52. Rf5 g4 53. Rg5
h3 54. Rxg4+ Kf3 55. Rh4 h2 56. Rxh2 Kxe4 57. Kc2 Ra5 58. Rh4+ Ke3 59. Bd5 Ra2+
60. Kb3 Ra6 61. Re4+ Kd3 62. Rxe5 Rb6+ 63. Ka4 Kd4 64. Re7 Kc5 65. Rc7+ Kd4 66.
Ka5 Rb1 67. Ka6 Rb2 68. Rb7 Ra2+ 69. Kb6 Ra1 70. Bf7 Rf1 71. Rd7+ Ke4 72. c5
1-0

R.I.P.

[Louis Morin]

Re : RIP - Henry Morgentaler

He was a regular around the Montreal chess cafe scene, and played in a few tournaments. He played 44 FQE-rated games prior to 1982 - achieving a rating of 1872. 232 blitz games with a rating of 1458 (between 1980 and 1984).

In 1980, he also took private lessons from Roman Pelts at his "Roman Chess Studio" in Montréal, on St.Catherine Street, and played in a few tournaments there.

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: RIP - Henry Morgentaler

He was a CFC member as late as 1996.

[Brad Thomson]

Re: RIP - Henry Morgentaler

I remember processing his membership renewal when I was with the CFC. His return address sticker said, "Save the Children".

[Hans Jung]

Re: RIP - Henry Morgentaler

I remember playing him in several speed tournaments at the old YMCA on College in Toronto. He played lines that allowed me to win brilliantly. He had an uncanny knack for choosing moves that would lose to nice tactics. The perfect sportsman and you could tell that he loved speed chess.

[Mark S. Dutton]

Re: RIP - Henry Morgentaler

Dr. Henry Morgentaler passed away today at the age of 90. Better known for his abortions than his chess, he was an active player in Montreal in the late 1970's and early 1980's - it is said that he studied chess a lot while in jail in 1975.

He was a regular around the Montreal chess cafe scene, and played in a few tournaments. He played 44 FQE-rated games prior to 1982 - achieving a rating of 1872. 232 blitz games with a rating of 1458 (between 1980 and 1984).

R.I.P.

Dr. Morgentaler lived near the old Chessn' Math location in Toronto, and became a member of the Dutton Chess Club on Bayview in early 2000.

He would drop by the club for casual chess and was a fairly reasonable 1800 strength player. RIP Dr.Morgentaler.