'14 IL Senior Open Champ Michael Penway Passes Away

 

The ICA has received word of the passing of Michael Penway from cancer at the age of 54. 

Penway was the 2014 Illinois Senior Open Champion, winning three matches and drawing two. Michael raised his rating to a peak of 1869 at that event, a hefty increase from his 1200-provisional rating in 2003.

He was a frequent participant in the Illinois Open (including 2007-2012 consecutively), the (Tim Just) Winter Open/Reserve, the Chicago Open and Chicago Class, and Wisconsin's Greg Knutson Memorial and Wisconsin Memorial.

Michael was the co-champion of the Class B section at the 2011 Chicago Class Championships in Wheeling with four wins and a draw against co-champ Robert Moskwa.

He enjoyed 145 lifetime tournament wins with 85 draws.

Illinois chess stalwart Greg Bungo recalled Michael fondly, "I enjoyed talking to him before and after tournament games; he had interesting things to say about various topics.  I'll miss him."

Former ICA President Carl Dolson played Penway in the opening round of the '14 Senior Open. Dolson recalls Penway, "beat me in that tournament with the black pieces in a Scotch Game." Dolson recalls they'd played another time, a game which yielded a similar result. Penway "played the white side of an accelerated Sicilian Dragon, and, afterward, he told me he had just studied up on it. Michael sprang an "early unusual move" and went on to win. 

Dolson recalls both games were hard-fought... and that he'll remember Michael's likable in personality and sense of humor.

According to Michael's wife, Anne, he was born in Chicago and grew up in Chicago, Oak Park and Berwyn. 

In addition to chess, Michael "loved poetry, and was exceptionally well-read and knowledgeable about English and American poetry of all eras. He also loved a broad range of music, from classical to contemporary alternative music (Bach to Beck), and enjoyed discovering new artists and bands."

Anne indicates "Mike’s greatest passion was his work as a stay-at-home Dad, caring for, entertaining and encouraging his daughter, Dottie Rose. He was chef, chauffeur and companion to her from infancy to adulthood," and he and Dottie were "often seen riding around Lake Bluff and Libertyville on a big blue tandem bike."

Those wishing to make gestures of remembrance are encouraged to donate to Advocate Condell Hospice of Libertyville or to the school chess program of their choice.