The article is an obituary to the memory of Vitaly Makarovich Zhuk.

On the night of 19 February 2015 has left the life of an amazing man Vitaly Makarovich Zhuk. His death is an irreparable loss to all Crimean chess players and players. He’s not in words, but actually made an enormous contribution to the development of chess and checkers on our Peninsula and beyond.

During the life of полуострове was a very modest man and did not boast of his achievements. Now, when it did not, it is my duty to tell the world the story of his life that will live on the pages of this website and in the hearts of the people who know him personally.

It all started in 1987 when Vitaly Zhuk headed Simferopol chess and checkers club. Since then and until today he is in the literal sense of the word fought for his existence. The first problems began in the 90-ies, when the collapse of the USSR. In this difficult time chess and checkers were simply not wanted. Those who at least once in life was in Simferopol chess school, you know that it is located in a listed building in the heart of the city. Of course, such a room in their use to this day my dream is to get individuals. And in the ill-fated 90s, the chess club had planned to do casino games. That only Vitaly Zhuk and the fans of this game didn’t do enough to hold the club. Collected signatures, went to the officials, wrote to the press. And here the club stood firm, and even though it was not the whole building, but only 1 floor – it was a big win.

In 1995 thanks to the efforts of Vitaly Makarovich Zhuk was created Chess and checkers Federation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in which he did not shift remained the Executive Director. The emergence of the Federation gave the opportunity to combine chess players not only of Simferopol, and the entire Peninsula.

The next important event in chess and checkers life of the Peninsula was the creation in 2005 of the Crimean Junior chess and checkers sports school. Not many people know how it was not easy. After all the paperwork required funds, Vitaly Zhuk invested from his own pocket. And the first 3 months of existence of the school, the funding did not exist, we waited until the Ministry of Finance will adopt the estimate of expenses, while the school was operational. How to explain to people that the salary, they may receive after 3 months and it is not clear to what extent. Zhuk took out money from his own pocket and paid those employees who have not had the opportunity to wait so long. The establishment of the school strengthened the position of chess players and players of autonomy, because now children from the premises to drive not simple, and the number of fans order grew. A few years later, due to the perceived need for school back rooms on the 2nd floor.

In 2011, in connection with the change of leadership at the top over the school revived the spectre of moving, details you can read in Ecoestate. And then we managed to resist. Do you think it is simple luck? No, dear friends it is a merit of the head, and his good policies in relation to schools.

During activity Vitaly Zhuk, was organized and hosted a huge variety of chess and checkers tournaments from a normal school festival to the World and European Championships in draughts.

So one ordinary man has managed to create a whole chess and checkers community that will exist for many years after his departure.

In this short article are just a small fraction of what made this man to talk about his actions in detail, you need to write more than one book.

Vitaly Zhuk will remain in our memory as a fun, cheerful, tireless, unfailing, hospitable people. A bright memory of him will forever remain in our hearts!

Author Yulia Semenova

creator Web-club Fenix-64