Patrucco’s impact remembered
CHESS STEPHEN DANN
Armand Patrucco, 75, innovator of college scholarship grants to New England high school students who played chess, died June 3 in Rhode Island. Dr. Patrucco, a professor of history for 35 years at Rhode Island College, retiring in 1997, arranged for scholarship grants for potential members of his chess team, starting in the 1970s, and in 1985, Rhode Island College won a national collegiate team title.
In addition, the college twice hosted the Pan American Intercollegiate tourney in Providence, and was a model for many other colleges that now have chess development programs of a sporting nature. He is already honored by the Mass. Chess Association’s Living Memorial Chess Fund, and donations in his memory may be made.
Mr. Patrucco encouraged LMCF founder Gilbert Gosselin to establish the fund in 1990, and hosted many chess events at RIC organized by Gosselin, who died in 2007. Despite a mobility handicap, Mr. Patrucco competed in tournaments throughout New England, including in Worcester, during the 1980s.
Source: www.telegram.com
I was proud to play on Doc’s chess teams in the 1980’s.
Hail to the Pan Am Intercollegiate Champion Rhode Island College in 1985.
Bd. 1 Sandeep Joshi
Bd. 2 James Thibault
Bd. 3 Keith Kaplan
Bd. 4 David Ouellette