Susan Kantor, a Friendly Face at Chess Control, has Died

Susan Kantor at the 2016 National Elementary Championship

Susan Kantor, who just recently retired from US Chess on July 21, has died from complications associated with cancer, US Chess has learned. Executive Director Carol Meyer said, "I am sorry for all on our team who lost a dear friend today. We extend our sympathies to her family and friends." Susan's husband Alan Kantor was also an employee of US Chess until recently.

Susan had been a dedicated employee for 15 years since she was hired in 2005 as an Accounting Associate. When she retired her title was Scholastic Associate and Clubs, FIDE Associate, and OTB Ratings Associate, a position in which she interacted daily with a wide swath of our membership and community. At many of our national events, Susan was a friendly face at Chess Control making sure everything was running smoothly and solving problems when things occasionally went awry. She watched her two sons grow up playing chess and once stated that she “loves the fact that most chess players always seem to want to help other players who have an interest in getting better.”

In our retirement announcement last month, her supervisor Director of Events Boyd Reed stated, “Susan’s imprint is, literally and figuratively, on every aspect of our national events operation. She has also been a very important contributor to the design of our new membership database, and a vital linchpin for directors, organizers, and scholastic affiliates across the country. It has been my unqualified privilege to call her a colleague. It is my continued privilege to call her a friend.”

Visitation for Susan Kantor will be at Bilbrey Funeral Home, 76 East Adams St, Crossville, TN, Saturday, August 8, 2020 from 6 – 8 pm. In lieu of flowers, make charitable donations to FOCCAS Animal Safety, PO Box 3245, Crossville, TN 38557 or American Cancer Society.