Perpetuum Mobile
Boris Postovsky's 80th anniversary party in the review of Eteri Kublashvili
Boris Postovsky, a famous coach organizer, and an International Arbiter, celebrated his 80th Anniversary on May 31, 2017. However, he defies his age: an invariably fit, cheerful, and optimistic Boris Naumovich seems to have invented the elixir of eternal youth. He gets up early, does his exercises, goes for lengthy walks, and works a lot on a daily basis. His immediate plans include visiting "Balaya Ladya" in Dagomys and refereeing at the world team championship in Khanty-Mansiysk. Always ready to come to the rescue, resolve any conflict, lend his support, give good advice - this is all about him, and this is what Boris Postovsky heard all speakers highlight at the party held in his honor.
Boris Postovsky has for many years been living in Boston, USA. The party heard a famous satirist Lyon Izmailov, who happens to be the celebrant's relative, tell that Boris Naumovich had arrived in Russia after taking some vacation time in Karlovy Vary. The evening was attended by the anniversary man's wife and his grandson Leonid. The grandson performed on the accordion and had a very warm congratulation in store for his grandfather, telling of all good and useful things that the latter had done for him, having turned into his role model in many ways.
All congratulations were met by Boris Naumovich while standing, thus demonstrating both respect for the speakers and his superb physical form. The majority of speakers have known Boris Naumovich for 40-50 years in average.
The program hosts were the well-known literary men and chess historians Vladimir Linder and Sergey Voronkov. At the beginning of the celebration Sergey read out a congratulatory message from the FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, but as soon as the middle of the evening program the president arrived at the Central House of Chess Player in person to offer the hero of the day his heartfelt congratulations.
The RCF president Andrey Filatov said he was very happy to work shoulder to shoulder with Boris Naumovich at the Baku Olympiad and witness Postovsky's "magic" in action, noting his invaluable contribution into the national team's multiple successes. Headed by him, the team won the Olympiad four times, and the world team championship once.
No less warmer words were offered to Boris Naumovich by the oldest grandmaster Yuri Lvovich Averbakh, famous coaches, chess players, organizers and journalists Ludmila Belavenets, Evgeny Eletsky, Sergey Smagin, Sergey and Marina Makarychevs, Sergey Dolmatov, Evgeny Surov, Igor Brodsky, statesman / former deputy chairman of DSO "Burevestnik" Leonid Drachevsky, the “64” chess magazine editor Igor Burstein, philosopher/writer and David Bronstein's co-author Georgy Smolyan, satirist Lyon Izmailov, and RCF executive director Mark Glukhovsky.
Every speaker would point out the man of the hour's personal and professional qualities. Igor Burshtein recalled that the Moscow air defense system had been implemented to the project elaborated by the engineer Postovsky, to which the anniversary man modestly, but not without pleasure, replied, "An exaggeration." Lyon Izmailov, speaking after the "64" editor, said in joke that the Postovsky Moscow air defense system's existence was made public by Mathias Rust. In general, a famous relative of the birthday man entertained the public with quite a number of "home preparations", including his recollections of the little Boris taking music lessons.
Mark Glukhovsky praised Boris Naumovich's wise recommendations and highlighted the importance of sticking to them, recalling one of the birthday man's old aphorisms, "Life is given only once to spend it at the training sessions." RCF Executive Director expressed gratitude to Alexander Volzhin, Vladimir Shumilin, Mikhail Pleshkov for their assistance in arranging the anniversary celebrations.
The intervals between congratulations and gift giving were filled in with demonstrating slides that portrayed Boris Postovsky throughout a mind-boggling chain of tournaments that he had worked at, places that he had visited and people that he had got in touch with!
There was quite a number of Boris Naumovich's close acquaintances who failed to make it to the event. However, they sent their messages: warm congratulation letters came from the 10th world champion Boris Spassky, 13th world champion Garry Kasparov, grandmaster Boris Gulko (who reminded that Postovsky's training sessions had been crowned by several chess marriages), the chess federations of Serbia and St. Petersburg, the team of "Chess Informant".
Grandmaster Igor Zaitsev, who has recently celebrated his 79th birthday, sent his beautiful congratulatory poem.
The floor was then taken by the hero of the day. Boris Postovsky thanked the audience and speakers for their warm wishes and congratulations, making a pointed reference to the Russian Chess Federation and stressing his readiness for cooperation. His speech was a recollection from his biography's many interesting moments, such as getting to know and maintaining communication with the world champions, beginning with Botvinnik, his high school days, his work, and the sports society "Burevestnik". He spoke well of his parents who had fostered in him love of work and respect for people. These principles keep guiding his life even this day.
The official part gave way to the unofficial one, which, of course, enabled everyone to personally congratulate Boris Naumovich on his birthday and wish him everything they deemed necessary.
The Russian Chess Federation congratulates Boris Naumovich Postovsky on his anniversary, wishes him robust health, long life, prosperity and a lot of exciting work to come!
Pictures by Vladimir Barsky and Eteri Kublashvili
