Farewell to a chess friend…

Mark C Diesen was born September 16, 1957 in Buffalo, New York.  He was an American chessplayer who died on Dec. 9, 2008 in Conroe, Texas.

He leaves three daughters, Amy Diesen, 19. Sarah Diesen, 16 , a recently married step-daughter Gina Perkins, 24, wife, Melinda Diesen, sister Laura Butler and mother Marjorie Diesen.

He earned the International Master title in 1976 by winning the World Junior Championship.

Other achievements included Louisiana State Champion in 1986, 1987 and 1988, 1973-74 1st Hastings Challengers , several GM norms Karlovac 77′ , Polaniza Zdroj ’78 , etc , and Texas State Champ 2001 & 2003.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, he had a degree in Chemical Engineering. After dropping out of mainstream chess, he worked as a reservoir engineer for Shell Oil, Pennzoil and Noble Energy. He won many state championships and the Southwest open too.

Click Here for Chess Games of Mark C Diesen

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the U.S. Chess Trust, PO Box 838, Wallkill, NY 12589, 800-388-5464 or online.  Click Here for Online Donations.

Information courtesy of Melinda Diesen.

Obituary Knoxville News Sentinel

Mark Carl Diesen

DIESEN, MARK CARL – age 51 of Conroe, Texas native of Buffalo New York, passed away suddenly December 9, 2008 in Conroe, Texas.

He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He worked as a reservoir engineer for Shell Oil, Pennzoil and Noble Energy.

Mark was a World Junior Chess Champion in 1976, the US Junior Co-Champion, the Louisiana State Champion in 1986, 1987, 1988, Texas State Champion, Southwestern Open Champion, and an active chess coach in Houston, Texas and online.

He is survived by his wife, Melinda Diesen of Conroe, Texas; daughters and sons-in-law, Gina and Travis Perkins of Knoxville, Amy and Daniel Smith of Houston, TX, and Sarah Diesen of Conroe, TX; mother, Marjorie Diesen; sister and brother-in-law, Laura and J.C Butler all of Bristow, VA; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Joyce McGlothin of Knoxville; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul and Meredith Averill-McGlothin of Ossining, NY; several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension with Rev. Dr. Howard J. Hess officiating. Interment followed at Highland Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the U.S. Chess Trust, PO Box 838, Wallkill, NY 12589, 800-388-5464 or online.  Click Here for Online Donations.