Erling Tholfsen (1904-1996)

 

Erling Tholfsen, champion of the Marshall Chess Club in New York in 1923, 1924 and 1931, died at age 92 on December 6, 1996. He was born January 12, 1904 in New York City and became one of the leading players in the Big Apple during the 1920s and the early part of the Great Depression. Tholfsen was captain and 4th-board player for the U.S. men's team at the Olympiad in 1928 at The Hague. He gave up competitive chess after the 1930s. He worked as a Spanish teacher in the New York public school system before he retired. He was also very active in the labor movement for many years. He is best remembered for this famous statement: "Do whatever you can to discourage him, Mrs. Fischer."

 

Erling Tholfsen - May You Rest In Peace

 

Obit by George Mirijanian, Massachusetts Chess Association