| Walter G. Trice |
| By Joan DuBois | |
| September 16, 2009 | |
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Walter G. Trice (1948-2009)
Walter G. Trice, a master and USCF life member from Worcester, Massachusetts, formerly of Holden, Mass., died August 23, 2009 in Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester. He was 60. He was a member of the Massachusetts Chess Association for many years before he gave up tournament chess more than 20 years ago to take up the game of backgammon, a game in which he quickly excelled. At the time of his death, Mr. Trice was one of the top 10 backgammon players in the country. In addition to numerous backgammon tournament wins, he was the author of several books, including the modern classic "Backgammon Boot Camp." He also wrote several computer programs for backgammon and was a contributing columnist for the online magazines GammonLife and GammonVillage. He was secretary of the New England Backgammon Club. He was very much involved in chess during the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a regular competitor at the Worcester Chess Club and competed in the Worcester Met Chess League. He also competed in state and regional tournaments, including the very popular Central New England Open championships held in Leominster, Mass. during the 1970s and '80s. During that time, he was also a USCF-certified tournament director. He retired in 1987 as an actuary for the Paul Revere Lie Insurance Company in Worcester. He was born December 17, 1948 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where his father, James Trice, had worked years earlier on the Manhattan Project, the development of the atomic bomb. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1970. In addition to chess and backgammon, Mr. Trice had also been interested in cycling and was a member of the Seven Hills Wheelmen and the Easy C Riders, bicycle clubs in Worcester. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 12, in the O'Connor Brothers Funeral Home, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester, Mass. There are no calling hours. Donations in memory of Mr. Trice may be made either to the Trice Educational Fund, c/o Lillian Murphy, 1501 Old Mill Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610, or to the Massachusetts Chess Association's Living Memorial Chess Fund, c/o Robert D. Messenger, MACA Treasurer, 4 Hamlett Drive #12, Nashua, NH 03062. Obituary submitted by George Mirijanian, Publications Coordinator - Massachusetts Chess Association Walter G. Trice - May you rest in peace. |