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BGonline.org Forums
Ed Bennett 1936-2016--I will miss him
Posted By: Phil Simborg In Response To: Ed Bennett 1936-2016 (Keene)
Date: Wednesday, 14 December 2016, at 5:00 p.m.
When Ed decided to run his first major tournament in Santa Fe, he hired me as a guest lecturer and auctioneer. He told me that two of the things he loved the most were backgammon and Santa Fe and he wanted to be sure his first event was first class. He asked me to brainstorm ideas with him that would make the event classier, and not to worry about the expense.
Ed threw a pre-tournament party at his condo in the city which was fantastic, and then a dinner party at an amazing restaurant that I believe he owned or had invested in. In spite of a huge snow storm, which actually made the event more fun and memorable, it was a truly classic event. In the end, everything was done the way Ed wanted...he had strong feelings about quality.
After Ed had won some major tournaments, he told me he really wanted to keep improving his game, and he took lessons and studies with me intently. He was never satisfied to be just a "good player" and always worked hard to improve. He once told me that the adage that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" was baloney. On two occasions he flew into Chicago to just sit down across the table and take live lessons.
I later had the pleasure of spending time with Ed down in Jamaica, at a tournament he won, and I saw a man who truly loved the game and loved life.
He will be missed.
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