Harold Dondis (1922-2015)

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Harold Dondis Photo Credit: Boylston Chess Club, Herb Healy
Harold Dondis Photo Credit: Boylston Chess Club, Herb Healy

U.S. Chess Trust Trustee and Chairman Emeritus, Harold Dondis died playing chess at the Boylston Chess Club. He was 93 years old. This is a great loss to the Chess Trust.

Harold was a key founder and Trust Chairman from 1967 at its inception until 2000, when he wished to step aside as Chair in my favor. His advice has been invaluable to me and the Trust.

He was very dedicated to the Trust and received the USCF Distinguished Service Award in recognition of all he did for chess, including his column in the Boston Globe and his work for the Boylston Chess Club.  He was the former president of the Massachusetts State Chess Association and a partner in a Boston Law firm.

We named the Harold Dondis Award in his honor. He will be greatly missed.

Harold Winston

Chairman, US Chess Trust[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=”” seperator_indeed_locker=”Indeed Social Locker” lk_sl=”” lk_t=”” lk_la=”horizontal” lk_dc=”true” lk_dfn=”true” lk_lt=”2″ lk_etl=”0″ lk_tl=”30″ lk_nru=”0″ lk_rl=”0″ lk_lra=”30″ lk_lrt=”days” lk_io=”” lk_lp=”50″ lk_dm=”0″ lk_thm=”0″ lk_tuo=”0″ lk_dt=” “][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_text_separator title=”DONDIS, HAROLD B. – Boston / Obituary” title_align=”separator_align_center” align=”align_center” color=”grey”][vc_column_text]DONDIS, Harold B. Of Belmont, MA, passed away December 10, 2015. Beloved husband of Claire Louise Dondis. Son of the late Joseph and Ida (Povich) Dondis and brother of the late Meredith Dondis of Rockland, ME. Brother-in-law of Esther Dondis of Rockland, ME, and the uncle of Jo Dondis of Camden, ME and Lynn Dondis of Washington, DC.

Born in Rockland, Maine, he was educated in Rockland Public Schools. Mr. Dondis graduated from Bowdoin College and Harvard Law School. He practiced law and became a senior partner at Rich, May in Boston for his entire legal career. He was also general counsel for the Algonquin Gas Transmission Company for many years. Mr. Dondis had a great interest in the game of chess and founded the U.S. Chess Trust. This Trust became the charitable arm of the U.S. Chess Federation.

He wrote the chess column for the Boston Globe for 50 years.

Relatives & Friends are respectfully invited to attend Visiting Hours in celebration of Harold’s Life in the Brasco & Sons Memorial Chapels, 325 Trapelo Rd, BELMONT, on Wednesday, Dec. 16th from 3 – 7 p.m.

Donations may be made in his memory to the Rockland Public Library, Rockland, ME 04841 or the Boylston Chess Club, Suite B101, Norris St, No. Cambridge, MA 02140.

For complete obituary, guest book & additional information please refer to; www.BrascoFuneral Home.com Belmont 617-484-2088 “Creating Meaningful Memories”

Published in The Boston Globe on Dec. 13, 2015

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Services by Brasco & Sons Memorial Chapels

Visitation:

Wednesday, December 16, 201503:00 PM – 07:00 PM
Brasco & Sons Memorial Chapels; 325 Trapelo Road Belmont, MA 02478[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

1 Comment
  • Barbara DeMaro
    says:

    I lost a very dear friend. He was and remains a saint. Harold and I worked together for 34 years. He is one of the most brilliant lawyers I was fortunate to know. Both law and chess were close to his heart and he had wonderful stories to share. Harold founded the U.S. Chess Trust. He was modest, gentle, kind, and extremely generous. Harold was my lawyer, my mentor, poet, author and very close to my heart. I will miss him more than anyone will know. Harold is an angel who touched anyone he met. His spirit will live on with chess forever!!!

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