AAdditional Games
Ronald Rodgers
1927-January 24, 2001
May 05 1956
The Ottawa Journal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Saturday, May 05, 1956
Blindfold Chess
Ronald Rodgers, an ace player with the RA Chess Club of Ottawa, takes an opponent Alex J. Thomas, blindfold. To do this a person must remember the changes in position as the game progresses. As the moves are made, each is called by the opponent who moves also, according to directions of the blindfolded player, the chessmen of the opposition.
Ottawa's RA Chess Group Basks In Limelight as Ontario's Best
By S. Kelly Hale, Written for the Journal
History has hinged on the outcome of a chess game. Oriental slaves have lost their heads because their lives hinged on a move on their master's chess board. In Ottawa, although heads don't roll at the move of a chess man, members of the RA chess club feel that, in a way, they are making history.
From 10 members 10 years ago, the Ottawa group has grown into a membership of 125. J. B. Bergevin, president of the Ottawa club, points out that new members are always welcome and that someone is always available to explain the age-old game to newcomers.
“One thing that must be stated,” said Mr. Bergevin, “is that, contrary to popular opinion, chess is not an old man's game.“
Children Learn It
The fact has proven itself, with the game of chess being introduced to small fry all over the country. Here in Ottawa several high schools have adopted chess as an extracurricular activity, putting the chess club on par with the camera club, glee club and other beneficial after-hour hobby groups.
The local club, which meets each Thursday evening, has a wide variety in its types of players. The beginner, who arrives for his first chess session, can pick up the fundamentals of the game in a half hour, and enjoy a good workout with others in his class.
On the other hand, the group has many championship players among its membership Doctor Fedor Bohatichuk, one of the four international masters in Canada, resides in Ottawa, and is an active member of the RA Chess Club. Ronald F. Rodgers, club champion, has earned himself the title “Consistent Rodgers,” so apt is he at beating his opponents at the game.
The club, boasting the largest single club membership in Canada, now holds the honor of being club champion of Ontario.
Chess, the game of the past as well as the present, goes back farther than anyone seems to know. It was thought to have begun in India or China, but no one is quite sure.
In the days of slavery in the Eastern countries people were used as chess markers, and the life of the slave often depended on the skill of his master in the game of wits and concentration.
Part of History
Great battles have influenced the plays in chess and in the reverse, the outcome of a chess game has influenced history. An example of the latter is the voyage of Columbus to the new world, for it seems that Queen Isabella, enthusiastic about the voyage, approached the subject to her husband, King Philip, only after he had won a chess game. The winning of the game always put the king in such fine spirits he would agree to anything whole-heartedly.
In this era, Russia is recognized as the country of chess mastery. In comparison to other countries, the contribution of the Soviet of outstanding chess players is by far the greatest. In that country, where chess is backed by the people and financed by the government, a tournament is watched with the enthusiasm shown by Americans for baseball. Should a tournament be in progress, gigantic boards are posted on the main buildings in metropolitan areas and each move is watched by the passers-by.
Sets Valuable
Chess sets can be an expensive proposition. Display sets of carved ivory cost usually more than a hundred dollars. If a person wants to pay more than a thousand dollars, he can do that also. It is though that the most expensive set ever purchased was given to Paul Morphy, as reward for winning the world championship about a hundred years ago. This set was valued at several thousand dollars, probably between five and eight thousand.
And chess isn't to be left out of the age of automation, despite its existence in centuries past. Betsy, the Robot, who makes her home at Harvard University, has been reputed to play chess better than the average player.
The past few years in Canada have been the best few as far as chess players are concerned. After years of hard work by enthusiastic individuals, players are at last uniting to form a strong Federal organization. Last year, following the Canadian Chess Tournament at the Chateau Laurier, the first Canadian Chess Championship magazine of such high caliber went to press, giving chess players everywhere an inside view of the happenings of the game. Mr. Bergevin, who with Dr. F. Turcotte, edited the book, feels that this is a step in the right direction.
Mr. Bergevin, who foresees a strong chess organization in Canada, is working at the present time for a strong chess group in Ottawa. With new members coming to the club each week, he stresses the fact that there is room for many more, both men and women.
Something else to be taken into consideration, now that leap year has made its appearance in this man-scarce city is that the RA chess club finds itself with a great abundance of very eligible bachelors. A word to the wise, as the saying goes.
The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Saturday, August 09, 1958
Champion Made This Move
Shown above explaining to Lorne Bentham, Citizen columnist, the features of the main and final game which was played in the last City Chess Championship tournament, are Ronald F. Rodgers, left of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics, chairman of the Civil Service RA Chess Club; Arthur Sansome, right, of the Public Printing Bureau, treasurer and past chairman of the RA Chess Club as well as a former RA director; and Mrs. Mary Rodgers, secretary of the club; and Mr. Bentham. This chess championship tournament was sponsored by the RA Chess Club and was won by Mr. Rodgers. — Photo by McCullough
The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Friday, January 26, 2001
Ronald Frank Rodgers
Suddenly at his home in the presence of his loving wife of 44 years, on Wednesday January 24, 2001, Ronald Frank Rodgers at the age of 73. Cherished husband of Mary Elisabeth Raina and loving father of Randall, Miriam (Martin) and Karen Rodgers. Grandfather to his precious Jennifer. Predeceased by his parents Frank and Beatrice Rodgers and his sister Eleanor Robertson. Ronald will also be sadly missed by his brothers-in-law Ralph Raina (Cathy), Louis Raina (Elsie), Dominic Raina (Sonia) and James Raina (Nancy) and sister-in-law Anne Raina (Grant Cameron). He will also be sadly missed by his nieces Deborah and Elizabeth Robertson, his nephew David Robertson from the United States, as well as his many Canadian nieces and nephews. Ronald received his education at the University of Toronto obtaining degrees in Astrophysics. His working career included employment with the RCMP where he served as ballistics expert, Statistics Canada and the Department of National Defence. In his leisure time Ronald was active in the Ottawa Chess Club, where he willingly shared his extensive and valued knowledge with fellow members. He was awarded the President's Award given to members for their outstanding contribution to their activity.
