GDN's Report

07 March 2009

Here is a Gulf Daily News report:

'Mr Scrabble' Roy Keitzman is mourned

Bahrain's "Mr Scrabble", well-known columnist, writer and journalist, Roy Keitzman, died yesterday.

US citizen Mr Keitzman, in his late 60s, was found dead in bed at around 11am when police broke open the door of his apartment near the Kuwaiti Building, Manama.

Close friend and Bahrain This Month (BTM) editor-in-chief George Middleton, who was the first to arrive on the scene, said that in Mr Keitzman he had lost a long-time associate and editor who had been instrumental in the early success of BTM.

He said Mr Keitzman had attempted to call a friend at 6.50am but failed to get a response. "When the friend called him back at around 10.30am after having noticed the call, there was no response on either the land line or the mobile. That is when the alarm was raised."

He said a driver who routinely visited Mr Keitzman to take him around and who had access to the apartment, also called him (George) after he failed to get to open the front door.

"We reached there with the police at 11am and after forcing ourselves in, found him in bed. He was dead at that time. I feel he may have been unwell early in the morning and had tried to reach his friend who, unfortunately, missed the call."

Mr Middleton said the US embassy in Bahrain has been informed and they in turn are getting in touch with Mr Keitzman's only known relative, his sister Janice Blank, who lives in Indiana.

Long-time friend and Salaam Bahrain editor Meera Ravi said Mr Keitzman, who came to Bahrain in 1985, revolutionised the Scrabble scene in the country.

"We worked together when he came and one day he expressed a desire to play Scrabble. That is when I put him in touch with a friend in the Scrabble league. He did not look back since then. He was a great friend whose advice will always be treasured. We shall all miss him a lot."

Bahraini adventurer Ali Mushaima, also closely associated with Mr Keitzman, said the country has lost someone who never tired of promoting Bahrain wherever he visited.

"He knew Bahrain inside out and was an invaluable asset to the country because he was always tirelessly working with thousands of tourists visiting Bahrain. His command over several languages made him an asset to everyone in Bahrain, especially through his association with the Visitors Guide to Bahrain."

Mr Keitzman, who started playing Scrabble in 1960, was named chairman of the Bahrain Scrabble League in 1985, just after he arrived in Bahrain.

Ten years ago, when Bahrain's General Organisation for Youth and Sport recognised Scrabble as a mind sport, he was appointed president of the government's Bahrain Scrabble Committee.

He spearheaded the organisation, in 1991, of the Gulf Scrabble Tournament which has been held in Bahrain annually since. Mr Keitzman had been competition director for over 50 contests, in Bahrain as well as in India and Oman.

Sources said friends of Mr Keitzman in Bahrain would shortly organise a memorial service but no date has yet been finalised.