Fischer biographer Frank Brady described the family's move from Manhattan to Brooklyn in 1950: " In the fall of 1950, Regina moved the family out of Manhattan and across the bridge to Brooklyn, where she rented an inexpensive apartment near the intersection of Union and Franklin streets. It was only temporary: She was trying to get closer to a better neighborhood. Robbed of her medical degree in Russia because of the war, she was now determined to acquire a nursing diploma. As soon as she enrolled in the Prospect Heights School of Nursing, the peripatetic Fischer family, citizens of nowhere, moved once again—its tenth transit in six years—to a $52-a-month (That's about $460 in today's currency) two-bedroom flat at 560 Lincoln Place in Brooklyn. The family resided in apartment Q, a small, basic, but habitable apartment. It was there that Fischer soon became so engrossed in the game that Regina feared he was spending too much time alone".
They currently have some interesting exhibits. My favorites:
Chess During World War 2
A Memorable Life: A Glimpse into the Complex Mind of Bobby Fischer
My parents lived in the building immediately to the right in the picture and my father's business, was directly across the street on Lincoln Place. He owned a radio, and later TV, repair shop. Bobby hung out at my dad's store, watching him fix things. The store cat, Minnie, had a litter of kittens and my mother gave one to Bobby. My mother remembered him fondly so in her later years I was very diligent in protecting her from news of his decline.
ReplyDeleteWonderful story. Thank you for sharing this.
Deletethis is a never before (as far as i know) fischer anecdote. do you have any more? did you know him?
ReplyDeleteMy mother was friends with him. She lived in the same building- 560 Lincoln Place. She used to share the story that as a teenager he had about 8 games going in his room simultaneously. His mother got so mad at him one time that she went in and threw the chess figures and boards all over the place. He was furious, but was able to put them back to where they were by memory. My mom had fond memories of thier friendship.
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