Dan Meinking (1960-2012)

Dan Meinking (1960-2012)

Dan Meinking
1960   –   2012

25th November, 2012

With a deep regret I have to inform, that a famous composer, Dan Meinking, has died yesterday from the heart attack. Dan was well known in the world of chess and won multiple Cincinnati and Dayton Chess championships in the early 1980’s. He was awarded the title of “FIDE Master of Chess Composition” in 2009 by the International Chess Composition Union. He was an avid game designer and his Alpha Sleuth and Lexmaze puzzles published in “Brain Games” games books. 

Visitation will be held at Good Shepherd Church on Kemper Road on Tuesday Nov. 27, 2012 at 9:00 AM with Mass to follow at 10:00 AM.

For many composers Dan was also a very good friend. I’d like to quote some comments about Dan Meinking:

“Needless to say, this is a huge shock to all of us and an enormous loss to our small chess problem community. I am planning to have a tribute to Dan in SG61.” (Mike Prcic)

“I’m very shocked indeed… Dan and I exchanged hundreds of emails this year, as he helped me a lot in the writing of my recent SG article, and he was the Director of the last chessproblem.ca thematic tourney, co-organized by Cornel and I. Bad bad news, can’t trust it.” (Dupont Nicolas)

“For me, Dan was more than a gifted problem composer… he was a great teacher (who helped introduce me to the art of problem composition), a mentor, and a good friend (always… for many years… no matter what).  He will be missed, beyond words.” (Kevin Begley)

“I was lucky to closely communicate and collaborate with Dan for more than a year and had opportunity to value his great talent and remarkable personality.” (Valery Liskovets)

“Shocking and totally unexpected news. Words fall short of expressing my sorrow – we have lost a great problemist, a great person and a great friend. May he rest in peace, he will always be remembered.” (Cornel Pacurar)

“For our small chess problem community enormous loss.” (Bosko Miloseski)

“This is TERRIBLE. I had very enjoyable correspondence with Dan. He was a really fine problemist and man.” (Ian Shanahan)

“He was a really fine problemist and man. For our small chess problem community enormous loss.May he rest in peace, he will always be remembered.” (Микола Чернявський)

“I’ll always remember Dan from our group of Problemists on the ICC chess server. He’d gather several people into a room and we’d shoot the breeze and look at problems for hours. He loved collaborating on compositions and seeing promising ideas come to fruition.” (Ryan McCracken)


You can see Dan Meinking’s Chess Problem Collection here.

Daniel E. MEINKING’s Obituary on The Cincinnati Enquirer.


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Rajendiran Raju
Rajendiran Raju
November 27, 2012 09:48
Reply to  Julia

For My First Ever Posting in the MAT PLUS forum ( 13 th Nov 2012 )about asking Solution to

Jorge Lois Illegal Cluster Problem . Mr.Dan Meinking was immediately Posting less than a Hour

With the Link URL . ( What a Dedication & Keen Enthusiasm )I was Lucky in touch with THE GREAT

COMPOSER .I never Correspond even before this & now On wards also ; Real Loss & Sorrow .

He was NO MORE WITH US Physically ??? But his thoughts ( ie , his Composistions & Parry Series

Invention ) EVER LIVE WITH US !!! I pray God May he rest in peace .

Paul Raican
Paul Raican
November 27, 2012 23:05

I heard with great sadness about Dan’s death. I was so lucky to knowing him and to be her close friend, although physically we’ve never been one next to the other. He was the soul of Cornel’s Forum and so, I opened there a new topic named ” In the memory of Dan Meinking”: http://forums.chessproblems.ca/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=290
Those who knew him could post there a problem with dedication.

Randy Meinking
Randy Meinking
November 30, 2012 16:22

Today at 11:48am ET will mark the 1 week point at which my brother, Dan Meinking, was pronounced dead.

In his honor, I plan on holding a moment of silence at this time. I would consider it a great and kind gesture if the composing community could do the same. Please get the word out if you can.

Thanks and regards,
Randy Meinking

Rob Speed
Rob Speed
April 16, 2013 05:34
Reply to  Randy Meinking

Deepest sympathy to you, Randy. I can’t beleive “Dan The Man” is gone. He was a true genius, and a great friend. He showed me no mercy in games of chess. Excellent times with Dan and friends included jamming to Pink Floyd and Rush, and going to Ohio U. in Athens.

Mark Kirtley
Mark Kirtley
November 30, 2012 22:13

I miss talking with him.

shankar ram
shankar ram
December 4, 2012 04:57

Didn’t have an opportunity to interact with him… but used to admire his problems.. may he be happy in Caissa’s fairy land..
Thanks to Julia for posting this obituary.. Feels good that we are able to share..

Seetharaman
Seetharaman
December 4, 2012 05:04
Reply to  shankar ram

Indeed there are many wonderful problem in that selection of his problems linked above. Obviously gifted composer!

David Zimbeck
David Zimbeck
January 28, 2013 13:55

This is so sad. When I was around 14 years old Dan was my primary contact to getting my worked published. We talked a lot and also being from Ohio got to meet now and then. He was so cool and nice! Rest in peace Dan!
(David Zimbeck)

Reb Orrell
May 30, 2013 23:48

I just learned about Dan’s death. Terrible shock and loss for the chess problem community. Dan and I worked very closely for several years designing the StrateGems website. I’m humbled that at one point he dedicated a chess problem to me.

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