In Memoriam
A page dedicated to Seattle Club members who are gone, but not forgotten.
If you wish to add a memory, please email our webmaster.
Claudia Bishop (1986 - 2011)
Claudia Bishop started coming to club in March of 2011. She was excited to play SCRABBLE and was eager to learn more and improve her game. Claudia also became close friends with long-time club members Dinah and Uri Breda.
Sadly, just a few weeks after her 25th birthday, Claudia passed away the morning of July 25th. We don't have any more details or information, but have heard that there will be a service for her in the Bay Area.
I was just getting to know her and found her a delight. I will miss her! — J. Midori Howard
Toby (Thora) Cozens (1928 - 2006)
Long-time Seattle Scrabble Club Treasurer Toby (Thora) Cozens passed away the morning of December 22nd. Toby had been battling brain cancer for months and was able to stay in her own home until the last few weeks (she was assisted in maintaining her independence as long as possible by her very supportive family).
In addition to being the Treasurer of the Seattle Scrabble Club, Toby also recorded game stats for every club session for years, and provided incomparable assistance at every Memorial Day Tournament. Toby also volunteered with several other organizations and libraries.
Toby has been part of the Seattle Club from the very beginning--she became involved initially as the babysitter of club co-founder Mark Oppenheimer. She will be missed.
Remembrances of Toby
Even though it was expected, this is still very sad news. I have known Toby since the earliest days of the club, and her interest in the workings of the club and her diligence in maintaining the records kept it going. Besides playing and working as treasurer for the club for many years, Toby gave her time to a school library and to the Puget Sound Blood Bank. She always saw the best side of people. I know that a great many people will miss her. -- Ann Ferguson
Toby has been missed on Tuesday evening.
Always gracious, straight-forward with a very welcoming word for newcomers, she is one of the reasons I kept coming back to the club after losing so many games at first.
I remember how she liked to play with the board upside-down. How she'd smile with that twinkle in her eye and joke about almost everything. -- Jane JacksonToby was the first person who greeted me on my maiden visit to the a scrabble club. She was friendly and welcoming. She encouraged me to return even though my ego took quite a beating that first year of club. I loved her dry sense of humor. I will miss her. -- Jane Bissonnette
Toby was a big help with the club and the tournaments; it was a great comfort knowing that I could rely on her. I miss having her at club. -- Rebecca Slivka
Carl Barish (1941? - 2006)
Carl's tournament history Carl's club history
Carl Barish played a very sharp SCRABBLE game, and was a regular member of the Seattle Club for over 14 years. He loved to tinker with electronics and radios. Carl designed and sold his own line of digital Scrabble clocks (the 2Timer) that is still in use today at the Seattle Scrabble Club and elsewhere. He was also a member of the Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club (his callsign: KC7ZK).
Remembrances of Carl
I'm sad to hear about Carl. Even though I didn't know him very well, he seemed like a real nice guy. I got to play him for the first time at the last session I was at. -- Doug Kruyt
This is soooo sad. I really enjoyed the time I spent with Carl and always looked forward to seeing him. My condolences to all of you. -- P.K. in PDX
I am very sorry to read of Carl's passing. I liked him. -- Christina O'Sullivan
Please send my condolences to Eileen, Midori, and others at the club who I know were close to him. -- Chris Schneider
I'm sorry to hear this. I didn't know Carl well, but he was a good guy. Friendly, curious and willing and able to talk about a wide variety of subjects away from the Scrabble board. -- Mike Baker, Portland
I was very sorry to hear about Carl's passing away. He was a good friend who gave me rides in Seattle several times, and he had also played in our Western Canadian Championship a few years ago. I spoke to him at the Portland tourney just last month. Please pass the deepest condolences of our club and myself to his family. -- Siri Tillekeratne, Calgary
Sorry to hear about Carl--he was a great club member -- Larry Nargi
He always had a ready laugh. You always felt comfortable around him. He was a nice guy. -- J. Midori Howard
I will always fondly remember Carl for commenting about the new word list regarding the word pizzazz - that it had no business being on it! He was a nice man who was always ready to smile or be a friend. -- Lee Ann
It's going to be tough not seeing Carl sit at his usual table at club. He taught me a lot of things about how to play the game, and I always knew it was going to be a good battle when we played. More than just a good Scrabble player, however, he was always sportsmanlike, glad-hearted, and witty. Those are the things I'll miss the most. -- Mike Frentz
Ralph Neubeck (1941 - 2004)
Seattle Scrabble Club's member and punster par excellence, Ralph Neubeck, left the Scrabble scene and his career as an inspiring history teacher on December 17, 2004, when pancreatic cancer won the final battle. His obituary, which smacks soundly of Ralph's authorial hand, can be viewed at: Ralph Neubeck, 63, Franklin High history teacher, Seattle Times.
Jan Prashker (1954 - 2003)
Jan Prashker died February 12, 2003 after a long struggle with a brain tumor. She was a long time member of the Seattle Scrabble Club, a regular, whose sweet disposition never wavered throughout the progress of the disease. Even after she was moved to a hospice facility, she welcomed and enjoyed a game of Scrabble right up to the end. She will be missed.
Remembrances of Jan
I will miss Jan - she truly was a sweet, generous person. -- Ann Ferguson
Jim Greenway (1904 - 2001)
Jim Greenway was another long-time club member who played well into his 90's. I'm sure many of the old-timers have fond memories of him.
Seattle Times Obituary of Jim Greenway