ANovember 09, 2008
The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California, Sunday, November 09, 2008
Chernev, Selma Kulik
Apr. 5, 1907 - Nov. 7, 2008
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sadie Kulik became an exceptional pianist. At the age of 17, she gave her first concert, changing her name to Selma. A young man, Irving Chernev, attending one of her concerts, decided he had to meet her. He arranged to take piano lessons from her to accomplish that. Eventually they married and had one son, Melvin. Irving Chernev was a great Chess Master. He is remembered as the most outstanding and best-selling writer of chess books of all time. After retirement in 1968, the Chernevs moved to San Francisco. Irving passed away in 1981. Selma continued to live in their Marina apartment until a fractured hip forced her to move. She came to Sacramento to be near her family son, Mel, and his wife, Marlene, and grand-daughter C.C. Selma lived happily at the Albert Einstein Residence Center where her own Mason and Hamlin piano remains as a memorial to her. Funeral services will be private and held graveside in Colma, where she will be buried next to Irving.
