StarJock
Rich Van Riper
Phoenix, Arizona, United States 
Member Since: Oct 10, 2007
Last Login: Nov 21, 2009
Profile Views: 1214
Points: 194
Status: Enjoying Life - One day at a Time! (19 days ago)
Occupation: Retired AeroSpace Engineer
USCF Rating: 980
About Me:
I am a retired Aerospace Engineer living in Phoenix, Arizona for the last 40 years. My wife and I celebrated our 47th. wedding anniversary in June; we have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. Besides chess my hobbies are violin and guitar playing, reading books about history and current events, and following college and pro football and major league baseball. Since retiring in 1999, I've become obsessed with the challenge and joy of Chess. For the last 12 yrs I have volunteered as a chess coach at a middle and a high school in Phoenix. It's great to see children start at 6th. grade who have never played and then progress for 6 years into skilled players upon high school graduation! I play chess online and in OTB USCF tournaments (although not very well). I am also a USCF certified tournament director. To try and improve I've been taking lessons the last 3.5 years, via internet, from Yelena Dembo who lives in Greece and is among the top-rated women players in the world.(She's also on this website).