Former SCC champion David Groenig passed away October 9, two days before his 96th birthday. Dr. Groenig moved to Spokane in the late 1950s and won his first club championship in 1959. According to Steve Fabian’s club history, Groenig also won five consecutive championships from 1966 through 1970. He was an Expert level player during his prime, and still sported a USCF rating of 1909 at age 70. His last official tournament predates the USCF computer database.
Dr. Groenig was an obstetrician. One of the babies he delivered here was Dave Griffin, who remembers meeting the doctor on a club visit in the early 90s. The chess club expresses its condolences to the Groenig family.