MANNY MOSKOWITZ (1917-1998)

by Tim Boggan, USATT Historian

USATT Hall of Famer Manny Moskowitz, although buoyed by visits and cards from his New Jersey Table Tennis Club members wishing him well, died Sunday, Dec. 13, 1998 at Overlook Hospital in Summit N.J. of complications resulting from a weak heart. He was 81 years old and had been and continued to be a very active and well known figure in the table tennis world both in the U.S. and abroad.

Manny and his brothers were early 1930's pioneers in organizing and sustaining New Jersey League play. And Manny himself achieved some considerable success as a player--won the 1934 USATT Men's Doubles with Sol Schiff.

On moving to Maryland, Manny continued being very active. He was the #1-ranked Maryland player for the '37-38 season, Chairman of the '38 Middle Atlantic Open, the Secretary of the Eastern Inter-City League, and Co-Chair of the '39 Eastern's.

On moving to California, Manny was back playing--in the 1950 Los Angeles Open; and then, a decade later, he was involved locally as Recording Secretary for his East Bay Club in the Hayward/San Lorenzo, CA area.

Around 1970 Manny began umpiring matches. He also began writing articles for the USATT National Publication "Topics"--on the Awards presentation and the selection of umpires for the '72 U.S. Open, for example. By decade's end he was Chair of the USATT Referee/Umpire Committee and had been writing a regular column in "Topics" called "In the Umpire's Chair."

In 1983 he was not only the Chief Umpire at the U.S. Closed but also the first U.S. umpire ever to serve at a World Championship.

At the '86 World Veterans Championship in Rimini, Italy, he was given the ceremonial honor of being U.S. flag bearer.

Back home Manny continued to officiate locally, regionally, and nationally--in '89, for example, he was the Assistant Chief Umpire at the U.S. Open, and in '92 he was umpiring at the North American Qualifier. On through the '90's he continued to be active--and was fit enough to be both player and umpire at the 14th Maccabiah Games in Israel.

He would have celebrated his 82nd birthday by umpiring at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg in Aug., 1999.

Unquestionably, few players or officials have sustained such an interest in and given so much to Table Tennis as he did--over a span of 7 decades!

We'll miss you, Manny--your civilities, your fairness, your friendship. You were a person of principle--a gentleman.