Boys Will Be Boys: Four Catholic Teenagers in the Big Apple

Henry (c. age 17) plays his 16-year-old friend Kenneth Rozyahegyi during lunch hour at Saint Peter’s High School, New Brunswick, New Jersey (c. 1973). Yikes! It looks like Ken is about to capture my queen! We must be playing Loser’s Chess. Photo by Steve Nagy.

In December 1973, over a half century ago, our Saint Peter’s High School Chess Team from New Brunswick, New Jersey, was riding high. Every week or two, our team traveled to another high school in Middlesex or Somerset Counties and competed against other school chess teams. Sometimes we played other high schools on our home turf in New Brunswick. I think there were about a dozen schools who participated in the Middlesex County/Somerset County High School Chess League. At the time, chess was big in the United States, as a year earlier, in August 1972, Bobby Fischer became the first American born in the United States to win the FIDE World Chess Championship, against the great Soviet grandmaster Boris Spassky. Fischer ended, for a short time, 24 years of Soviet domination of the World Championship.

I was the captain of the Saint Peter’s High School chess team, as I had earlier won the annual Saint Peter’s High School chess championship. Alex Schack played Second Board and Junior classmate Eugene Rodek played Third Board. Sometimes Eugene played Second Board if Alex was absent. Eugene tells me he had defeated all the seniors except me, so then he would naturally play Second Board. Most of us on the team were seniors (myself, Alex Schack, Tom Kuhn, Bob Beecher, Sam Chiapetta, Mark Fischer, Robert Goldberg) but a few underclassmen, such as Juniors Eugene Rodek, Brian Cafferty and Kenny Rozyahegyi also played on the team.

Members of the Saint Peter's Chess Club battle each other after school. Ann Marie Gallina plays Hank Doktorski, Brian Cafferty (?) plays Alex Schack and Sam Chiapetta looks on. Ann Marie was an underclassman, a sophomore, as I recall.

At the end of the season, our chess team was undefeated, as we had won (or drawn) all our matches with other schools. If I remember correctly, that year the other Saint Peter’s High School sports teams (golf, track, basketball, baseball, as I recall) did not do well. Our chess team that fall was the only UNDEFEATED team at SPHS. Once while walking through the gym, our school athletic director, Thomas Lempfert, walked up to me, slapped me on my back, and congratulated our team, saying something like, “Your chess team is a credit to Saint Peter’s High School.”

(Tom Feller tells me that the SPHS Cross Country Team did extremely well in the Fall of 1973, winning 11 meets and losing only one. However, only our Chess Team was undefeated!)

That Autumn, I happened to see an advertisement in the November 1973 issue of Chess Life and Review magazine for a High School Championship Tournament, including a competition for four-man high school teams, in New York City. A three day, eight-round tournament: Wednesday through Friday, December 26, 27 and 28, 1973, hosted by the Continental Chess Association. It was to be held in a ballroom of the McAlpin Hotel, built in 1912: the largest hotel in the world at the time of its completion. I talked to the Saint Peter’s High School principal, Sister Ann Joaquin, and said, “Our chess team is on a roll! Saint Peters should send us to New York to compete in this big tournament! All we need is money for the entrance fee, USCF membership fees for each player, round trip train fare, hotel and meal expenses.”

The advertisement in Chess Life and Review magazine for the High School Championship Tournament.

Sister Ann Joaquin agreed to get the money, but countered, “Who will be your adult chaperone? School policy insists you have an adult with you.”

As I recall, I exclaimed, “Sister! The members of our team are all upstanding in moral character. We’re mature 17-year old bastions of Catholic upbringing. Most of us have been in Catholic schools for 12 years. You can trust us not to get into any mischief!” Against her better judgement, she reluctantly agreed to give us the money and let us go without an adult chaperone.

As an aside, I wouldn’t mind if an adult accompanied us on our 3-day trip to New York, but we didn’t have a faculty advisor (our Saint Peter’s High School Chess Club & Team was ALL STUDENT-RUN), and I doubted I could find a parent who would hang around with us for three days in New York beginning the day after Christmas.

The train station was just a couple blocks from the school. Four of our best Saint Peter’s chess players (Eugene Rodek, Tom Kuhn, Brian Cafferty and Yours Truly) met at the the train station on Wednesday morning (the day after Christmas), purchased our train tickets, and got the next north-bound train to Penn Station. Then we took a subway to the hotel. We checked into our room and then went downstairs to the ballroom to play the first round. We played three rounds on the first day, 9:30 am, and 1:30 and 5:30 pm. Hundreds of high school chess players came from the Eastern Seaboard. The event was enormous!

Unfortunately, our team did terrible! I think we all lost our games, except for Eugene, our Second Board player, who won his first three games. Despite Eugene’s impressive performances, our team result was rather disheartening. We went back to our hotel room. Eugene remembers we got into a food fight with a chess team from another school who had a room across the hallway from us, throwing slices of pizza at each other.

The next day, Thursday, we played two more rounds against other high school teams. I think only a few of us won our games. Despite a few wins here and there (Eugene won his first three games, then lost two games), our performance was generally pitiful and our team lost all the matches. We were quite disappointed, to put it mildly. Depressed, actually. We were used to playing against local New Jersey high schools, not elite Ivy League high schools which had sponsored chess teams for decades and hired grandmasters to coach the students. At Saint Peter’s we didn’t even have a faculty advisor for our chess team.

Back at the room late Thursday afternoon, one of us (I think it was me, but Eugene thinks it was Tom Kuhn), suggested, “Hey! Let’s not be discouraged about our pitiful performance in in the tournament. We’re in the Big Apple! It would be a shame if we didn’t take advantage of the cultural events in the city. I’ve never seen an X-rated film before. Let’s find a movie theater that shows films with beautiful naked women!”

Tom Kuhn, class of 1974 Yearbook photo.

The response from my 17- and 16-year old team members was enthusiastic and (nearly) unanimous! (Eugene would have prefered to play Round 6, the last round on Thursday.) What fun we were going to have! We found a New York newspaper in the lobby and started looking through the movie section. There were lots and lots of movies listed, but we didn’t see any X-rated films.

None of us, inexperienced in the ways of the world, knew that porno films were not listed in the newspaper movie section; they were listed at the end of the sports section. And we did not know if we simply took a subway to Times Square, we could watch dozens of porno movies and even live shows, but we didn’t know anything about that. (In retrospect, that was probably good for us!)

Finally, we found one movie in the newspaper that was listed “Rated X.” The title was “The Exorcist.” And yesterday was the day of the film’s debut release, the opening night! Yay!

We all put on our coats, hats, gloves and scarves—it was December after all—and found our way to the movie theater. We were quite surprised: The line to see the movie went around the entire block! And blocks in New York City are very big. So we went to the end of the line.

After several hours of waiting in line as the snow fell, and anticipating seeing sexy hot babes on the big screen, we finally got into the theater around midnight. We were lucky. The very last show for the day was about to start. The theater was packed, but we found four adjacent seats in the first row. The people in line behind us were turned away.

We settled in our cushioned seats and within minutes the film started. The screen was enormous and we had to tilt our heads back to see the entire screen. People in the audience were chattering and tittering and laughing during the opening scene, but within minutes, the movie plot took an evil, supernatural turn, and everyone became silent. I think it was then I realized, “Hey! This isn’t a porno film! It’s a horror film!”

A newspaper advertisement for The Exorcist.

That was the scariest movie I had ever seen in my life, before or since. I had nightmares for weeks after. While watching the film, we were so frightened we didn’t even dare to move. We sat silently stiff as wood with our coats and scarves covering our faces, only our eyes peeking through. During one especially scary scene, a glitch in the sound system made a very loud buzz for a second. We all reflexively jumped up and fell back down in our seats. I jumped so high that my seat closed up underneath me and when my rear end hit it, the seat stayed shut. It took me a long time to gradually open the seat and slide back down, I was too scared to move.

We finally got back to our hotel room about 3 am Friday morning, and went to bed. I got sick and vomited in the toilet. Then went back to bed, and got sick again. I made several trips to the bathroom. Tom says that Brian Cafferty also got sick. Eugene remembered, “Henry, you were throwing up green and we were pretty much convinced you were possessed.”

The next day was Friday, and Round Seven was scheduled to start at 9:30 am, and then the Final Round at 2:30 pm. (We had skipped Round Six the previous night to attend the movie.) I was too sick to play and everyone else on the team didn’t get much sleep, so we decided, “To hell with the tournament! Let’s get on the next train back to New Jersey.” After disembarking at the New Brunswick station, we called our parents on the pay phone and went home. Of course we never told our parents or the SPHS administration about our teenage antics during our un-chaperoned trip to The City.

That is how I remember it, although some details may not be exact. It is a story I and the other members of our chess team have treasured for five decades! I hope you enjoyed reading about our Saint Peter’s High School Chess Team. I guess boys will be boys. Have we all changed that much in the last half-century?

PS Special thanks to Eugene who researched online and discovered the advertisement in Chess Life and Review magazine which helped clarify much about our New York City (mis) adventure.

Henry Doktorski (November 12, 2024)

Alex explained why he didn’t join us at the New York City tournament: “I was working two jobs senior year, so I didn’t have the time. You may not remember, but I also won the part of Mr. Babcock, the banker in our school musical: Mame. However, when the director told me I had to attend play rehearsals several days a week after school, I had to give up that part because of work also, and Mark Fischer ended up with the role.

Addendum by Alexander Schack

Alexander Schack, who played Second Board on the Saint Peter’s High School Chess Team, from the 1974 Saint Peter’s High School Yearbook.

Thank you for the story, Hank. But I think there is even a more interesting story that you failed to write about. Here it is:

Hank was what was called First Board on the chess team. In other words, he was our best player. I played Second Board, and at one point challenged Hank for First Board.

Because I was a challenger, Hank insisted that the match take place at his house in East Brunswick, so I agreed. After about 90 minutes of play I was winning. At the time, as Hank mentioned, Bobby Fischer was all the rage in chess making it very popular. Fischer was a different type of player who sometimes used mind games to psych out his opponent.

Realizing that he was about to lose the match and First Board, Hank decided to resort to Fischer-type mind games. He got up from the table, went into his room for a second and came back out. As I was analyzing the board for my next move, Hank decided to start clipping his toenails in front of me. Every few seconds a clipped toenail would fly past me, interrupting my train of thought. Unfortunately, for me, Hank’s strategy worked.

I made a blunder and Hank was able to salvage a draw out of the match. Because he was the reigning champion, a draw with me was not sufficient for me to unseat him from First Board. And that is how our beloved Henry Doktorski III maintained his status on our chess team!

Quite a story and congratulations to Hank on a strategy well implemented!

Alex Schack (November 13, 2024)

Eugene Rodek Adds His Two Cents

Eugene Rodek, who played Third Board on the Saint Peter’s High School Chess Team, as he appears on his Saint Peter’s High School identification card.

I had a good start to my games, winning the first three. I think I played someone who had a 2200 rating, but I cannot find supporting info in my game score sheets, so maybe that’s all in my head. I remember getting into some kind of argument with the high school team next door to us in the hotel. There was banging on the room doors, some tossed pizza and then some water thrown at our door.

I only found 5 rounds in my chess game records for this tournament, so either I am missing a round, or we did not play the Thursday 5:30 pm sixth round. That night we all went to see The Exorcist. I do remember us wanting to go to the earlier show, but the lines were so long that we did not get in until the last show. I remember standing in the cold around the corner as the line went on and on. At one point, I was watching through a window a waitress in a resturant serving meals to customers, then I looked down into the basement street elevator and watched the rats running around!

The Exorcist was originally rated X by the Motion Picture Association film rating system, as it contains scenes with graphic violence and some sex. However, the film’s rating was later lowered to an R, so the movie was recently released when we saw it.

I am pretty sure we sat in the second row in the theater, because not many people got in after us. There were people lying on the floor in front of the screen. It was a rowdy New York City crowd, laughing at first, especially with the yapping dogs. Then as the movie went on, it got quieter. The audience screams began when the main character (Ellen Burstyn, the actress who played Regan MacNeil—the 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil) peed herself, and then the audience screams slowly increased in number and volume. I do remember sitting lower and lower in the chair pulling my coat up. It was at one point where there was some technical difficulty with the sound system (looking back, that is what I recall), that made us all jump from our seats. And that was when Henry sat on the upturned seat for some amount of time.

We scampered out after the movie and hailed a cab to take us back to the hotel (I think we walked from our hotel to the movie). The cabbie said he was not going to take us, but then turned around and took us. Someone tossed the cab fare at him when we got out. I remember us sitting in the room afterwards and discussing the movie and how scared we were. I am pretty sure that was for me something that allowed me to share the experience, as since after that movie (or any horror movie) has not bothered me.

What else? We tried to get up the Empire State Building without paying the admission fee by sneaking up the elevators, but we did not get far before we were caught. I don’t remember much else about the days we were in New York. I was quite focused on the games. I recall that I didn’t think I wanted to go home early, as I was pretty happy with my gameplay, but the rest of the team had enough so that was that.

And I recall Henry buying a dirty magazine when we first got there, a magazine called Oui. It was a fun time, our “Stand by Me” moment.

Eugene Rodek (November 18, 2024)

Hank responded, “If I purchased an adult magazine as Eugene remembers, I probably left it in our hotel room when we checked out. I would not DARE to bring it home, lest my parents might discover it!”

One of Eugene Rodek’s games from the Continental Chess Association New York City tournament (December 26, 1973).

Eugene Rodek’s game against Jim Schwanza from Saint Peter’s High School vs. West Bridgewater High School (March 14, 1973). Handwritten comments by Saint Peter’s High School Chess Team Captain, Hank Doktorski.

Cover of Oui Magazine (October 1972 issue).

Update: November 2024

If anyone wonders what Alex, Eugene and I have been doing the last half century, here it is:

Alex (2019).

Alexander Schack: After graduating from St. Peter’s High School, Alex attended Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and received his degree in economics. He then traveled across the country to attend law school at the University of San Diego. His first job after law school was as a tax attorney at the CPA/tax firm of Arthur Andersen. After three years, he changed his career direction, going to work for a law firm representing individuals and small businesses.

In 1991 Alex started his own law firm, Schack Law Group, and focused his practice on antitrust law. He took on large corporations such as Verizon wireless cellular company, and 7-Eleven. Several of his cases changed the legal landscape and added additional legal protection for consumers. In 2007 he began representing individuals whose homes had burned in wildfires cause by utilities throughout the country. The focus of his practice currently includes representing victims of sexual harassment, along with thousands of victims of wildfires. Alex is married with two children and three grandchildren and currently lives in Poway, California, a suburb of San Diego.

Henry and Eugene in Lambertville, New Jersey (November 10, 2024).

Eugene Rodek: (Henry writing): When I asked Eugene to write something about himself for this page, he responded:

Ok Henry. I'm not crazy about writing a Curriculum Vitae or an Obituary! :) Here is what I wrote for FaceBook when I first got onto this platform some 12 years ago:

I think this describes me philosophically, or metaphysically. But, if you want me to expand on my more earthbound current presense...... ;)

Gene “The Bean” Rodek: With a background in physics, chemistry and computer science, Gene recently retired after a 43 year career in an analytical research firm solving questions and problems from a wide variety of disciplines in the material sciences using electron microscopy techniques. As Vice President, the small company environment allowed him to wear many hats including extensive involvement in the supplies side of the organization, heading up product development, marketing and travel.

In the late 80s, while volunteering at a local crisis center, Gene met a wonderful soul that worked there, and they became married several years later. They have a blended family of two children and three grandchildren.

Gene is an avid outdoorsman. He is an “Obsessive Peakbagger,” having summitted several hundred peaks including 47 of 50 state high points. Bringing his outdoor skills to scouting, he spent 20 years in the Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scout master and venture crew leader. He also enjoys photography and documenting our beautiful world.

Now with retirement, Gene is able to focus more time on his extensive boardgame collection (historical simulations or wargames) where he has worked with various game designers in playtesting. While chess is not as big a part of his life as it once was (chess is a very abstract wargame after all), the underlying skills that learning this game has benefitted him through his life. Gene looks forward to creating a lot more adventures for himself and his wife (and camera) as they further explore the world about them. They plan to stay in West Chester, Pennsylvania and grow old together.

Henry Doktorski: After graduating from Saint Peter’s High School, Hank attended Park College in Parkville, Missouri and in 1978 graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a double major: Piano Performance and Music Education. Three months later, Hank joined the rural Hare Krishna commune in West Virginia where he studied Bhakti Yoga under the tutelage of Kirtanananda Swami.

In 1994, Hank left the Krishnas and moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he continued his musical studies at Duquesne University. He received a Master of Music degree, majoring in Music Composition, in 1997. He served on the faculty of Duquesne University’s City Music Center as Instructor of Accordion. During his 22 years in Pittsburgh, he performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 42 times, playing accordion, piano, harpsichord and celeste. He authored, edited or recorded music for several books about the accordion: one book was published by Mel Bay Publications, and a dozen other books were published by Santorella Publications. Hank recorded six albums as accordion soloist. (The Washington Post said his A Classical Christmas compact disc with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra was “The most interesting instrumental collection of Christmas music this year.”) He also appeared in compact discs with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony.

In 2016 Hank moved to California, where he completed a monumental 12-volume nonfiction history of the Hare Krishnas (a project which took two decades to finish), focusing on the West Virginia commune where he lived some thirty years earlier. Henry is married to a professional critical care nurse, mountain biking aficionado, and author of the health care book Prevent This: A Simple Guide To Beat Disease, and has two children and two grandchildren from a previous marriage. Today he makes his living by working as a church organist, teaching Chess4Kidz classes to home-schooled children, and he also makes a miniscule amount from book royalties.