An obituary is not available at this time for Walter Harris. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall.
Cook Janet
left a message on November 27, 2024:
Walter and I met in 1970 at UC Berkeley. He was unfailingly kind and generous. He was highly intelligent, a Chess Master who once defeated Bobby Fisher! He was a steadfast friend for over 50 years. I am deeply saddened by his passing, and by not having seen him for several months. His spirit assuredly resides in heaven—he exemplified everything that is good about being human. I cherish the memories of our friendship, and miss him deeply.
Melissa (Lissa) Holland
left a message on October 30, 2024:
Walter Harris was a great and generous presence in the lives of my family. I have never met a kinder person. He was, memorably, one the first Black chess champions to play Bobby Fischer, and the Fischer-Harris game is written in the annals of chess (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7YDMdRcDbQ).
Walter was remarkable as one of only a few dozen African-American chess masters (https://scottcountychessclub.org/chess-in-black-history) and America’s first Black National Master (https://thechessdrum.net/blog/2006/01/07/historic-moments-a-conversation-with-walter-harris/).
He spent part of his childhood in a Bronx orphanage and went on to get advanced degrees in physics from UC Berkeley and to work at Lawrence Livermore Lab. In retirement, he established chess clubs in Arlington, VA, public schools and taught a science class to my daughter’s 4th grade, who sent him a 100 heart-strewn thank-you notes. He understood relativity theory and the Higgs boson. He was funny and utterly unassuming. I am sorry I lost contact with him. I miss Walter Harris.
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Cook Janet
left a message on November 27, 2024:
Walter and I met in 1970 at UC Berkeley. He was unfailingly kind and generous. He was highly intelligent, a Chess Master who once defeated Bobby Fisher! He was a steadfast friend for over 50 years. I am deeply saddened by his passing, and by not having seen him for several months. His spirit assuredly resides in heaven—he exemplified everything that is good about being human. I cherish the memories of our friendship, and miss him deeply.
Melissa (Lissa) Holland
left a message on October 30, 2024:
Walter Harris was a great and generous presence in the lives of my family. I have never met a kinder person. He was, memorably, one the first Black chess champions to play Bobby Fischer, and the Fischer-Harris game is written in the annals of chess (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7YDMdRcDbQ).
Walter was remarkable as one of only a few dozen African-American chess masters (https://scottcountychessclub.org/chess-in-black-history) and America’s first Black National Master (https://thechessdrum.net/blog/2006/01/07/historic-moments-a-conversation-with-walter-harris/).
He spent part of his childhood in a Bronx orphanage and went on to get advanced degrees in physics from UC Berkeley and to work at Lawrence Livermore Lab. In retirement, he established chess clubs in Arlington, VA, public schools and taught a science class to my daughter’s 4th grade, who sent him a 100 heart-strewn thank-you notes. He understood relativity theory and the Higgs boson. He was funny and utterly unassuming. I am sorry I lost contact with him. I miss Walter Harris.
left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.