Richard Fortman is dead

jimloy · Post by **jimloy** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:47 pm

I just received the following email. I have removed the email addresses, and I will provide them if you ask.

Dear Checker Friends: This is from Richard's family. With sadness we are informing the checker community of the passing of Richard Fortman on Saturday, Nov. 8. He left us peacefully from a nursing home after living a long, fulfilling life. Please feel free to pass this word along to others who knew him. He received much enjoyment from his internet acquaintances in his later years and greatly missed communicating with his friends the last few weeks.
With best regards,
The Fortman Family

The ACF Bulletin will have a small notice in the December issue with a collection of obituaries in the February issue.

Alan Millhone · Post by **Alan Millhone** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:40 pm

Sad news. I had heard he had fallen and had not heard from him for some time. He was the 'Dean of Checkers' in America and around the World . A couple of years ago after an Illinois Tournament I stayed an extra night in Springfield and went to the Fortman home the next day and visited with the Fortman's. Mr. Fortman took me up to his Checker office/library and we chatted and he showed me games,etc. I took along a bound copy of BASIC CHECKERS and had him sign it for me . His annotated games in the Missouri Newsletter and other places over the years will now be missed and treasured. He was a quite and unassuming man and he will be missed by all who knew him. At the Fortman home, Mrs. Fortman told me that Dick had a mistress.......... and with a little grin she said, " His Checkers ". His handwriting was excellent and the games and annotations in his own hand writing will always be treasured in my Checker library. My condolences goes out to the entire Fortman family in their and our great loss.

" At last my trophies I lay down "

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation

Alex_Moiseyev · Post by **Alex_Moiseyev** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:44 pm

Jim / Alan,

any information regards funeral services: where and when ?

Alex

kiwinurse · Post by **kiwinurse** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:14 pm

It is with great sadness that ive just read this news.My condolences to his family,who must be so proud of such a fine caring gentleman. We all held him in great regard.And his basic checkers was and is a checker bible to so many of us.Richard helped so many of us new players, playing us at IYT, and we really loved him,and respected him.There will be a huge gap in the checker community with Richards passing.What a fine man he was. regards Jan Mortimer

liam stephens · Post by **liam stephens** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:15 pm

On behalf of the Irish Draughts Association, may I offer sincere condolences to the family and relatives of Richard Fortman. Apart from being the grand old man of American Checkers he was the foremost writer and historian of the game, with all those wonderful accounts of events and players that appeared in the pages of the ACF Bulletin and other periodicals. I had the honour of playing him on the Its Your Turn site and very much treasure those games and memories.

jimloy · Post by **jimloy** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:49 pm

I never met Richard Fortman, but I considered him a close friend. We worked together on several I-D booklets, and he taught me a lot about annotating games. Unfortunately, I cannot tell great stories like he did. I knew he couldn't live forever, but it is still a shock to hear of his death. I have an unpublished article that he wrote, somewhere around here, and I will continue to search for it.

Lindus Edwards · Post by **Lindus Edwards** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 8:59 pm

It was with the deepest sense of sadness that I read of the passing of Richard Fortman. Throughout the thirty years I knew him he was a great friend to me and gave much of his time in assisting me with my manuscripts. No one can or ever will replace this great and wonderful man of checkers. My deepest sympathy to the Fortman family.

tommyc · Post by **tommyc** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:56 pm

MR FORTMAN ..................THE LEGEND

A legend of a man who tread the checkered board
And now with his passing he ll tread again .......no more
At least not here with us ......but in the bye and bye
Mr Fortman you r a legend Gods taken you on high

Basic Checkers is our Bible we read it every day
And ner..evr question a word you ever had to say
You spread the gospel well ....to one and all who played
And now young Richard Fortman for you we kneel n pray

For what, is a man "i ask"......... if himself hes not
In all our human weakness s for this is all we ve got
And as you rest now easy ..... long days have come to pass
We ll celebrate your life and death at Church and Sunday Mass.

Tommy Canning Ireland

Pedro Saavedra · Post by **Pedro Saavedra** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:47 pm

The first time we played in IYT I did not know I was playing him. I followed a line from BC and then looked up the game it referred me to. We drew right where that game was drawn. "I suppose you know we repeated the second game of the 1952 Banks-Tinsley match," I wrote.

"Yes," he replied, "I was one of the referees in that match." I then asked for his real name, as he was using an alias. When he told me I nearly fell over backwards. We have since played many a game. I had met him in Pekin in the 1970s, but only in passing. He was indeed a living legend.

Alex_Moiseyev · Post by **Alex_Moiseyev** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:57 pm

He was one of the few people who had all rights to say: "I changed the world and made it better!"

Alex

jimloy · Post by **jimloy** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 11:48 pm

I have received this email:

Thank you for posting our family's announcement to the ACF Forum. I have visited the page, and the tributes and comments that have already been posted in just the short time since we emailed the news are quite remarkable and moving.

In regard to any questions about funeral arrangements, Dad was quite adamant many times prior to his passing that he did not wish any public memorial services or even private funeral rites, and as such we are striving to abide by his wishes.

Again, much appreciation to you for helping us spread the news to the checkers community.

Mark Fortman

jimloy · Post by **jimloy** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:41 am

See the obituary at http://www.legacy.com/sj-r/Obituaries.a ... =120006051.

william · Post by **william** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:31 am

I never had the chance to meet Mr. Fortman , but I am sure that all who did ;, feel privileged , and carry onwards , in their lives , a piece of the man , and the giant that he was , with them.

In checkers Richard was not only a pioneer , but also a historian with many stories to transmit down through the generations , and this , generously .

By his acts , and deeds he will live for eternity in our hearts.

I suggest that the Beijing book be dedicated in full to this great great man

Yours , with deep sadness ,
WILLIAM DOCHERTY

Lisle Cormier · Post by **Lisle Cormier** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:47 am

Richard Fortman will be justly missed by the checker community. I have a couple letters Mr. Fortman wrote me that I continue to treasure. He was the greatest annotator of all time. It is doubtful that his masterpiece, Basic Checkers, will ever be bested for its innovative format and historical content. God bless Richard Fortman.

S_McCosker · Post by **S_McCosker** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:26 am

Hi Guys,

just heard this is a big loss to the checker community and im sure everyone will remember him for his Basic Checkers.

Shane McCosker (Ireland)

The American Checker Federation