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Make Your Move: Outdoor Chessboard Opens for Play

The rain stopped on April 7, just in time for middle school students Jack Walsh and Garret Hilger to play an inaugural game on the new outdoor chess board at Old Saybrook Middle School (OSMS). Observing them was their chess coach and high school junior Alex Ruth, the one who conceived of and built the outdoor chess board as his Eagle Scout project.

In his remarks to the crowd at the ribbon-cutting, a poised Ruth thanked those who helped him with the project: the school officials who supported his idea and the custodial staff who helped him; his two chess mentors, Bill Rosenthal, the one who taught him to play chess in kindergarten, and retired OSMS Principal Mike Rafferty, who coached the OSMS chess club while he was at OSMS; Youth & Family Services Executive Director Heather McNeil, who helped him solicit community donations to pay for the purchase of the outdoor chess pieces; and his dad and the scouts of Boy Scout Troop 51 who did the hard labor to dig the ground and set the tiles to build the chess board in the OSMS courtyard.

Two of Ruth’s volunteer student helpers, Kiwon-Paul Dionne-Jee and Saewon Dionne-Jee, joined him at the opening.

Ruth, his father, and volunteers spent three days in the summer of 2015 digging up the site of the new chess board; it took three more days to level the spot, set the tiles, and finish the board’s edges. Once the board was done, it was time to seek donations to buy the oversized outdoor chess pieces. This effort was furthered by an appeal sent out on Ruth’s behalf by the Youth & Family Services Agency.

Chess piece sponsors included the Foley Family, Amy and Dan Carlin, Helena Gernhardt (gift from Mr. and Mrs. Steven Gernhardt), Ethan Gernhardt (gift from Mr. and Mrs. Steven Gernhardt); In memory of Captain Dick Riley (gift from Daraine Riley); Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal, Zachary Miller and Grayson McLaughlin (gift from Mr. and Mrs. S. Westermann: Joshua Change (gift from G. Chang and L. Kieffer); Margaret Shepard dba H & R Block; Noah Cerino; Middle School After-school clubs; Mrs. Kathy MacDonald with Mrs. Joanne Giegerich, Mrs. Catherin Kane, and Mrs. Kate Hanratty; one anonymous donation; and a donation from the Old Saybrook Youth & Family Services Agency. All sponsors and contributors are listed on a brass plaque posted next to the new outdoor chess board.

The new chess board also spurred the Old Saybrook Parent Teacher Organization to add some outdoor seating in the courtyard. The PTO has donated funds to buy the materials for eight student-made Adirondack chairs to put in the courtyard near the new chess board and for a new shed in which to store the chess pieces.

Based on the enthusiasm of the first two middle school students from the chess club to try the new chess board, the project will likely prove very popular.

“Alex has been coaching our after-school chess club at the middle school for the past three years,” said Youth & Family Services Director Heather McNeil. “What really struck me was how patient and kind he was with all of the students he worked with. And his maturity.”

Ruth first learned to play chess at age 5 from Bill Rosenthal, who for 16 years has assisted in wife Marsha Rosenthal’s kindergarten classroom at Goodwin School. At the ceremony, Ruth credited Bill Rosenthal with teaching him how to play and learn to love the game of chess.

“I was greatly moved to hear Alex Ruth speak about the influence of chess in his life. I remember a young child who quickly mastered the essence of the game. Most of all I was touched last week by the wonderful person Alex has become and by him humility as a champion chess player and Eagle Scout,” Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal has taught many elementary school students to play chess at Goodwin School in the past 16 years since he sold his business, Emerson Books. His teaching is both as an assistant in his wife’s kindergarten classroom and as coach of the Goodwin Elementary School chess club that meets monthly.

“He’ll set up 10 to 12 chess sets, pair players, and let them play,” said Marsha Rosenthal.

When Ruth moved from Goodwin School to the Old Saybrook Middle School, he came under the guidance and mentorship of then Middle School Principal and Chess Club Coach Michael Rafferty.

“Alex grew into a solid academic and good citizen in the school. When he was in 8th grade, he stepped up to act as mentor and chess club coach—I was just the chaperon,” recalled Rafferty.

Ruth, as a freshman in high school in his first year of statewide chess competition, performed so well that he represented the State of Connecticut in the national Denker Tournament of High School Champions.

“When I was taught to play in kindergarten, I fell in love with the game,” said Ruth. “Chess improves your patience and critical thinking skills. It’s a fun game, a strategic game. It also teaches you time management. You’re given a set amount of time to play per game when you compete in any official tournament.”

Still just a high school junior, Ruth said that his goal is to win the state-wide competition for the K-12 age group. Ranked third in the state now, he has a good shot at that achievement.