[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: Alex Herrera on John Brown (1947/8-2006)

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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
Alex Herrera on John Brown (1947/8-2006)
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1171649183.shtml


   John Brown was a fixture of the Las Vegas chess scene, a real
   character and for many years one of the area's best players. I have
   many fond memories of him as a player and as a person, as does Alex
   Herrera, who offers this memoriam:

     Chess has many social benefits, in some respects itâs a ready-made
     way of making friends. You can be new to a region or country, show
     up at the chess club and instantly be accepted in a sort of
     fraternity. Because of chess I have met a universe of people to my
     personal enrichment.

     The first time I visited the chess club where I now live, in
     Arlington Virginia, I was accompanied by my wife and daughter. On
     the walk from the metro station I was commenting on how chess was a
     great equalizer, bringing together all sorts of people across all
     of the divides, and I joked that a homeless man pushing a cart was
     probably headed to the chess club. Imagine my surprise when this
     was indeed the case!

     These are remembrances of a chess friend, John Brown (born John
     Davidian.) He lived in Las Vegas, and he died in 2006 at the age of
     58. We played each other amazingly frequently, perhaps as many as
     200 rated games when we both lived in Las Vegas. John was rated
     between 2000 and 2200 most of his chess playing years, and he did
     indeed cross the Rubicon of 2200 once. He was not in possession of
     a clear mind, yet his chess was very clear and direct. He was the
     firewall that talented youngsters of successive generations (Dennis
     Monokroussos, Patrick Hummel, etc.) had to conquer on their
     journeys of chess improvement.

     John was schizophrenic, but harmless, humorous and generous in many
     ways. Because of the machinations of his mind he legally changed
     his name and always wore all brown clothing (with the exception of
     an all blue outfit that he wore sparingly for a couple of years.)
     He was a diabetic and had to inject himself with insulin daily, and
     it befell his father to be vigilant that John would not forget to
     do so.

     John lived for chess. He played anywhere he could, frequently
     traveling out of state, and always playing in the local Las Vegas
     events. Iâm very glad that I met John and spent many hours across
     the board from him.

   I heartily second Alex's comments. John was extremely good-natured,
   willing and able to laugh with those who were amused by his quirks,
   always happy to play anyone, and as free of pretension as anyone I've
   ever met.

   He was also a generous man, as Alex noted, more than once carting me
   and other juniors of my generation across the desert to play in
   L.A.-area tournaments. And he was a talented person - in chess,
   obviously (and this despite suffering the ravages of schizophrenia and
   medication), but in music, too - I've heard that as a young man
   (before the disease struck) he was a very able pianist.

   I too am grateful to have know him.