James E. Palange: A Part of Maine Chess History
09.21.17 We received an inquiry about former Maine chess player James E. Palange from his son Marius Palange. Marius was interested in finding out more about his father's chess-playing experiences back in the 1950's and '60's. We put this inquiry out to our community and got a response from Roger Morin, the multi-time Maine State Champion, who considered James Palange a long-time chess friend and significant influence on his own chess career.
Thanks to Roger Morin and Marius Palange for contributing to this report.
We received the following inquiry from James Palange's son Marius:
As the eldest son of James E. Palange I was told by family and friends my father was State of Maine chess champion in the 50's or 60's. I see this is not true, although I remember seeing trophys. Do you have any other facts on his chess play? I was also told he beat Bobby Fischer in Boston where Mr. Fischer played 100 people at once and my father was the only one to beat him there. Thank you.
And we were able to discover more about Mr. Palange thanks to this response from Roger Morin:
I remember Jim Palange very well. I met him at the Auburn Chess Club in 1967. The Club met upstairs at the old police station behind the Auburn Library. There were five regular players who would attend the Club: Joe Bednarczyk, David Nelson, Dr. Werner and one other older man who owned the Star tore on Lisbon Street in Lewiston. Of these players Jim was the best by far. He was such an influence to me that I even remember his rating of 1860 even though 50 years have passed! Although he never was Maine champion, for 20 years he was the second or third highest-rated player in Maine being eclipsed only by Stan Elowitch and Harlow Daly. His love of chess was unsurpassed. Attack, attack, attack was his moto. I do know that he did, in fact, play Bobby Fischer to a draw in Boston as he spoke to me of it.
Comments
My father was Dr Brown. I knew he was friends with Jim Palange but never knew he travelled to chess matches. I have some puctures of my father in a boat that I think might have belonged to Jim Palange. Seemed to mention photography studio.
Posted by: Bette johnson | April 19, 2018 12:23 PM
Thank you so much for the information on my father. He was possessed by chess playing. Always had a couple of boards set up (that we were told not to touch) with games he played thru the mail and spent most of his free time reading about or playing chess. He spent most of his time with Dr. James Brown travelling to matches and when Dr. Brown died of a heart attack at an early age my father was never the same. Again, I thank you for your kindness with supplying me with information about my dad that I had not been exposed to. My dad died at 55 years old, I was 15, so I never got the chance to speak with him as an adult. You have filled a void for this 64 year old and it is much appreciated
Posted by: Marius Palange | September 21, 2017 12:58 PM
chess is funny full of coincidences, I met Dahlov Ipcar who at 92 years! was playing in the Nat. Chess Day event at Bowdoin College organized by Danial Keliher, and just this past Sunday while playing in the 2nd MA Senior Open, was chatting with George Mirijnian, longtime MA chess promoter who asked about Dr. Sturtevant! thanks Roger for the Picture and vignette.
Posted by: Barry | September 21, 2017 10:17 AM