NM Juan Sena, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2019, passed away in his sleep this morning. After moving to New York from the Dominican Republic in 1986, he has touched the lives of countless students and chess players across New York City and within the walls of our club. An active player, he was an integral figure in our community. If you had the chance to meet him, odds are he made you laugh.
May he rest in peace, and we offer his family our deepest condolences.
To submit a tribute, please submit with the form at the bottom of this page or
email td@marshallchessclub.org.
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Jay bonin 2026-08-31
We worked together at the Manhattan chess club. He in the bookstore. Me a td. We played many games together. A fierce competitor . It hit me hard when you got sick. I was hoping you'd survive like I did. I was hoping for one more visit. That visit will have to wait. Right now we are worse without you. Rip❤️
Michail Prevenios 2026-08-31
RIP
David MacEnulty 2026-08-31
I loved working with Juan. I remember we were analyzing student games at one of the nationals. Going over a first grader’s game, Juan focused on the basic opening principles the boy was weak on. Next up came a sixth grader embroiled in an accelerated dragon. On the sixth move, Juan had a sparkle in his eye and an excited grin on his highly animated face as he said, “Well, we’re way beyond opening principles here!” He had an infectious love of life, the skills of a master, and the empathetic mindset to inspire and motivate every child fortunate enough to come before him. He was a jewel of a man.
Terrell Tuggle 2026-08-31
Back in 2000 when I joined the staff at Benjamin Banneker Academy in Brooklyn NY, the Principal Dr. Daryl Rock supported me in starting an afterschool Chess Program at the school. I already knew how to play chess myself but I also knew I was not good enough at the time to take the students we had to the next level. So Dr. Rock and myself searched for the best coach we could find. The top player in the school at the time his name was Malcolm Crane, he and his Mother both suggested his former Coach who they believed was an excellent teacher and an even better human being. The man they suggested was NM Juan Sena. The kids and parents just loved him, and he and I developed a great bond and friendship. He didn't just teach the students, he also taught me. He had such a passion for Chess and Life. He was loved by so many, and will truly be missed. One day we will meet again across the board, until then Love and Light My Brother...
Greg Keener 2026-09-01
Our community lost a truly wonderful person today. Juan was a real presence at the Marshall Chess Club for many years. From when I first started coming to the club through the pandemic in 2020, he was there nearly every day - giving lessons, playing, analyzing, he was always genial and pleasant and funny and charming. He was a central figure in my memory of the club prior to the pandemic.
He was so giving with his chess knowledge - he would offer me feedback on positions he saw me play, or jump in to analysis and offer his insights in an avuncular tone. I once asked him for advice against the French, and he showed me some ideas that I still play to this day. I played one tournament game against him- it was a Sveshnikov that liquidated into an ending. I played f5, connecting all my pawns in a nice solid chain and assumed I had a draw despite being down a pawn. I was completely losing only a few moves later. After the game, he showed me how I may have held - if only I had not played f5.
I will always remember his calm demeanor and positivity. On several occasions, he helped me as a tournament director by de-escalating a dispute through humor or charm - even when he wasn't involved but merely nearby. He also had excellent chess culture and a profoundly positive impact on countless students who he taught. The Marshall Chess Club was enriched by his presence and made a better club for having had him as a member, and he will be missed by our community for many years to come.
Rest in Peace Maestro
Carlos Avalos 2026-08-31
NM Juan Sena was an excellent human being and chess player. Rest in peace dear friend!
Yuan Eu Liao 2026-09-01
Tocaste muchas vidas en tu segunda vida en los Estados Unidos. Descanse en paz y hasta siempre, mi amigo Juan. Condolencias para la familia y amistades. ■■■■■ You touched many lives during your second life in the United States. Rest in peace and farewell, my friend Juan. Condolences to the family and friends.
Carl Boor 2026-09-01
I remember the first time I came to NY (back around 95) and had a few good results at the Marshall playing with masters. My streak was broken by Mr. Sena who took the time to look over the game with me and give me some pointers. He was a kind man with a good heart and loved chess. Many year later I managed to beat Juan in a tough game at the world open and he took it the same way: with a smile and laugh saying I must have put something in his drink. Juan Sena was a real chess player that did not play favorites, he just loved chess and you could not help but feel that passion when you were near him.
Christopher Maksymowicz 2026-09-01
Juan was one of my first mentors when I started with Chess-In-The-Schools. He showed me the ropes inside the classroom and I learned from him that it was always better to keep a lesson simple. "You can always increase complexity. If you make it too complicated you'll lose them and you're done. It must be fun, light, and engaging." That sums up Sena...FUN, LIGHT, ENGAGING. He was a sincere man with very little pretense. A stubborn competitor and eloquent in his commentary when sitting across the board in a blitz session..."This is just throwing rocks (waves hand)...hoping something will land...distract...I will not be distracted." He touched many lives and through those lives he lives on.
Fenton Family 2026-09-01
The chess world lost its most positive ambassador today. When we first met Juan at a chess tournament in Brooklyn, it was to hire him to coach our son. We had no idea on that day that we had not only met a dear friend, but also a person who would inspire us in life and will continue to inspire us for the rest of our days.
Superlatives are not enough to describe his influence and positivity. There is just no way to accurately reflect the aura of his presence with words. Words can be cliche and over time lose the meaning. To truly understand what it meant to be around Juan, you had to experience it firsthand.
It came through as a coach. It came through at tournaments. It came through when he was with his family. But, nothing will ever match the way it came through with the way he faced his disease head on. Speaking to him, you would have no idea he was even sick.
We visited Juan often over the past seven years (although to be fair, it is never often enough in the end). When we walked in his room, he was always watching his beloved Mets (if we timed it right). He was always giving us advise and kind words and never ever let the ALS get him down. As the disease progressed, he remained the exact same Juan.
I could go on and on, but will leave with…we are better people for having known Juan…the world was a better place with him in it…and heaven just got its brightest Angel.
We will miss you, our friend. Rest easy! And go Mets!!!
Adam, Rebecca, Seth and Ari
Rilwan Ameen 2026-09-01
RIP Mr. Sena,
Thank you for your courageous fight. I am forever indebted to you for changing my life through your teachings of the game of chess to us students at C.I.S. 229. I'll never forget the first day our program coordinator Ms. Easton, told us you would be coaching us in 6th grade. I had no idea what Fide Master meant, but none of that mattered. Juan Oscar Sena always had a sense of humility and humor, nurturing and compassion toward his students as he allowed us to work through mistakes, stay grounded through success and develop a passion over the 64 squares. As he would always say in his authentic Dominican way: Jamon Y Queso, Queso Y Jamon which meant in move choice: How you get to a destination is one thing, but the path you take there is much more important. Thanks for believing in the power of mind and pouring into kids from the Bronx, NY. Con power forever. - Rilwan Ameen
Seth Fenton 2026-09-01
Juan was my chess coach. Over time he eventually became a friend to both me and my family. His optimism in the face of the most tragic of circumstances never seemed to fade even as his symptoms progressed. Neither did his care for his students. It was never about him. Even as the disease took away more and more of his physical abilities, his focus remained on my life and happiness. I know he kept the same focus and care for his family and his community, even to the bitter end.To be able to maintain that level of compassion and care for others in the face of the daily struggle that was his disease is an incredible thing, and one few would have the mental fortitude to replicate.
You never can visit enough in the end, but I’m so grateful that I was able to visit Juan semi-regularly. Each time I went, his face would light up. He was always offering advice and making sure I was going to be ok. Juan never lost his love for chess and it was always our common bond. After the disease took his ability to play independently, every time I would visit he would have me open his computer and move the pieces for him on chess.com. He would explain the reasons behind moves after he had made them. He never stopped teaching me about the game he so loved or using chess to impart life lessons.
ALS takes just about everything from you one-by-one, but it never was able to take Juan’s mind or his spirit. He was incredibly inspiring and he will be missed dearly.
Pedro R Garcia 2026-09-01
Juan was far more than a chess coach to me—he was a true mentor, a fellow proud Dominican, and an incredible source of energy. Sharing the connection of coming to the U.S. around the same time made working with him feel like family. His enthusiasm for the game was contagious, and his guidance was invaluable in helping me prepare for over-the-board tournaments. He taught me to play with confidence, heart, and joy. His passion, laughter, and wisdom will stay with me every time I sit across the board. Rest in peace, Maestro. You will be dearly missed.
Michael Propper 2026-09-02
In 2019, Juan came to us and explained his diagnosis. Having freelanced most of his life, he now needed support. We immediately took him in and assigned an assistant to handle the physical tasks he could no longer do. Juan worked with us until he could no longer, but he remained a member of our Chess NYC Family until the fateful evening he left us. I have never known a more optimistic, forgiving, and thoughtful soul. He is deeply missed.
Mark E. Gerstl 2026-09-02
I knew Juan going back to the days of the Manhattan chess club at Carnegie Hall. He was a true gentleman. He was always extremely pleasant and always had a smile on his face when he greeted you.I enjoyed talking with him whenever the opportunity arose. I know that I have missed his presence at the Marshall over the last several years.
RIP
Nick F. Panico III 2026-09-02
Juan is one of the players that I will always be remember from when I started to come to the Marshall CC as a high schooler.
He was a very good player and was always willing to talk and be social. Once you got to know him he’d display some of his funny wit and charm and it helped create a positive atmosphere for the club.
This was back in the day before cell phones and chess engines. It was nice to go over the game in person over the board rather than stand in the hallway and mention things to each other that the Stockfish app suggested. I’m sure Juan would agree with this.
While I was never a student of his, I can see that he really helped so many in areas of life. Chess was just a tool for him to do so.
That is the mark of a great teacher and human being.
Juan may you RIP and play in the heavens with others that have passed on.
Kimani A. Stancil 2026-09-03
Thank you Juan! Your kindness to me will always be remembered. In October 2015 just before coming to New York to work, I met Juan Sena in a surprising way which led to my healthy and now longstanding playing relationship with the Marshall Chess club. Juan initially greeted me with smiles and immense curiosity after I had beaten Nicholas Checa at a DC area chess congress. I came to know that he was a friendly example of New York chess masters which lead to a genuine chess friendship and a kind of welcome to the NY chess scene. Later that year, he vouched for my participation in the Marshall club Championship and that seemed to cement my chance opportunities to play high level chess within my busy working schedule. I thank Juan for this blessing and continued personal joy. We shared a few meals and OTB matches which were all very positive. His personality was great and encouraging of others. His chess play was also very interesting. I found much beauty in the way he coordinated pieces and squares to solve problems during the game. I hope that his family can produce any book of his games or teachings that attest to his personality in life and in chess! Personally, though saddled with a debilitating illness, I hope that Juan was as happy as humanly possible in his final days. With this note, I hope that my heartfelt condolences will be received positively by his family as a small tribute to a generous and enduring chess educator and warrior of our community!
Dmitri Shneider 2026-09-03
Juan was a wonderful person and a lively character, and all of us in New York chess were lucky to have enjoyed his company
As a child, I went to the Marshall often, and Juan was a fixture there. Cracking a joke, trading banter over a game or an analysis, and generally making the room come alive.
For a kid (and also an adult), the thing that matters most is walking out of the club retaining a love for chess, win or lose. Juan did a great deal to make sure that happened. He showed what it means for people to bond over chess.
RIP Juan. You will be missed, and your memory will live on.
Anthony Levin 2026-09-03
I cherish my memories of Juan as a player, but they feel so, so old now. He’s been bedridden for half a decade, and most of my most accessible memories are from this last phase of his life.
What shocked me in the first years was how positive Juan had been, despite the finality of his diagnosis. It no longer shocked me by 2026 that he never complained–I grew accustomed to his optimism. What helped in these difficult years was his complete faith in God. Every single visit, he reminded me that God had a plan.
I am grateful to have met Juan, to have learned from him and to have shared many, many laughs. No matter what it did to his body, his illness could not take away his humor, which is what I will remember most about him. His humor and his undying compassion, genuine care. He died too young, but he also lived a full life, and I am just a star in the sky of many lives he has touched.
I loved the way he talked about chess and life. He was full of wisdom. We all knew this day would come, but it was only on this somber Monday morning that I realized how much I’d miss him. God bless you, Juan, may you rest in peace.
With love, Maestro, Anthony
Reece Jackson 2026-09-04
I was coached by Juan for two years, and I never switched to another coach. Juan was the best teacher I’d ever had and one of the nicest human beings out there. Even when he was struggling, he gave 110% effort everyday to everyone. He showed me everything a human being should be, and I hope one day I can be like him.
Thank you Juan for everything.
-Reece
Darren Lustig 2026-09-04
I just found out this morning about Juan and it upset me a lot. Juan was a really cool guy to be around at the club because of his passion for chess and his passion for people. We shared many cigarettes out in front the club and he always asked me how am I doing, how is your chess game coming along with a lot of encouragement. I remember playing a lot of tournament games and looking over my shoulder and he was there watching and giving me a nod or a smile and it would help a lot. I remember beating a strong expert in a very complicated endgame and Juan was the first person to shake my hand and a pat on the back with congratulations It made feel really good inside knowing a FIDE Master was impressed by my moves. I remember beating a couple of his students in a tournament with some tricky play and afterwards he said Darren take it easy on my guys and we shared a good laugh. You could tell how much he cared for and loved his students. I will never forget Juan and am sorry that he won't be at the club again The Marshall Chess Club will never be the same without him!
Bryan Quick 2026-09-05
Juan was a true friend—a great friend.
I’m grateful for everything he taught me and the many wonderful times I enjoyed with him at the Club. We first met in early 2013. By the summer he was helping me with my chess (he taught me the KID; the Bogo-Indian; the Dragon, to name a few). When I mentioned I was looking for a job, he said, “Why don’t you teach chess?” A few weeks later he got me a position at Chess-in-the Schools, changing the trajectory of my life.
More than anything, Juan loved chess: He loved to play, loved to teach, and loved the New York chess community, of which he was such an integral part. He used to tell me that the best thing that happened to a teacher was when your students became teachers themselves. And of course, he’d add one of his classic Juan-icisms: “You know, like Botvinnik, taught Kasparov, taught Sena, taught Giorgi, taught Nico.” Many of Juan’s students became committed teachers, carrying on his legacy, enriching the City and chess world to this day.
Speaking of his teaching: The joy Juan brought little kids with his vivid lessons! It was a marvel to watch him teach, turning the game into a story: “So the King called up Mr. Rook and when Mr. Rook answered, oh boy he could tell the King was angry, ‘Mr. Rook, get me out of the middle of this chess board fast, they are coming for me!’” And the great analogies he used to make his points: “The Mets playing the Dodgers is like me playing Irina. Is there a chance I can win?” My personal favorites were his warm greeting each day, “MAESTRO!” and (whether discussing chess or life) his knowing refrain, “Bryan. Analyze the situation.”
The most telling thing about Juan is that no one ever said a bad word about him, and if they had you would’ve known they were unreliable because who could possibly say anything bad about Juan? Juan was the rare person you could talk to in confidence, be certain he would maintain your confidence, and knew he gave you the best advice he could without judgment or ulterior motive. He just wanted to help, because that’s what great friends do.
His lost is a profound one. He will be deeply missed. But never forgotten.
Radu Murgescu 2026-09-08
It's taken me more than a week to sit down and write this, as I've been processing Juan's passing. I had the privilege to become close friends with Juan over the last few years. We met at the Marshall many years before, and I grew to respect his chess (especially his virtuous handling of that annoying opening known as the French) and his positive and encouraging attitude to me, to my son, and to everyone around. Juan had class - I think that's the best way I'd describe my view of him within the chess world.
However, all that paled in comparison to the person I met all over again at the Cobble Hill nursing home he spent the final years of his life. I lived in the neighborhood anyway, and I thought I'd do a good deed by stopping by and offering some companionship to a bedridden chess player. I left in awe - Juan asked about and we ended up talking about my life and about Adi and his mother, and he expended good wishes and advice as freely and generously as anyone I'd ever met. As to his own condition, "everything's great!" was always the answer. Over time, I did get to hear a bit about his struggles, but Juan's attitude was still without fail one of optimism and gratitude. Anthony mentioned it is his post above, and I confirm it here - Juan found God early on in his struggle with ALS, and he never went back. His faith was personal and his relationship with God direct, summed up succinctly as "God is with me". The implication was "so how can I be afraid?" and no intellectual understanding of relevant biblical passages (St. Paul comes to my mind) was needed. Faith was enough. Reading/listening to Psalms strengthened that faith daily (not unlike doing tactics to stay sharp at chess, I would say).
Over time, we chatted about many things and played a fair amount of chess (he was still the clearly stronger blitz player up until our very last game), but the undercurrent through it all was praise to God and prayer to Jesus as "my only saviour". Thank you, Juan, for your friendship, and may your memory be eternal.
Submitted by Rilwan AmeenSubmitted by Bryan QuickSubmitted by Bryan Quick
