Sad loss to the chess community with Baiba Mednis passing on. Many that knew Edmar knew Baiba as they were inseparable. At the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2000, Edmar referred to her repeatedly as his "beautiful blond wife."

Edmar's longtime dedication to chess, which led to his being inducted into the Chess Hall of Fame, also resulted in Baiba being awarded the title of "2003 Honorary Chess Mate". This prestigeous title is awarded to those for their support of chess and dedication of their life to their loved ones passion for chess.

The funeral will take place Saturday, January 24, 2004 at the Frank Campbell Funeral Home, 1076 Madison Avenue at 81st Street in Manhattan.

The United States Chess Federation, founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with more than 90,000 members. For more information, please see http://www.uschess.org.