Funeral Details

Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Harold Winston graduated from Bronx High School of Science and City College where he played on the chess teams. At the University of Chicago, he was captain of the chess team and won the decisive game in the 1968 US Intercollegiate that gave the U of C the Championship! He played against the Northwestern team, including George R.R. Martin whom you probably know as the author of “Game of Thrones”. Martin featured him in a short story as a character he named “Hal Winslow”. Harold continued as a lifelong member of the U.S. Chess Federation, serving as a delegate for many years, Chairman of the Bylaws Committee, worked on the Executive Board, and served as President from 1987-1990. He then served many years as CEO and Chairman of the U.S. Chess Trust, the Federation’s 501c3 non-profit organization. Harold was constantly inclusive, supporting Women’s, Scholastic, and inner-city teams and their efforts. He championed college chess and brought it into a position of importance within USCF. Harold attended every USCF Open Tournament and delegate meeting since 1968 and even has the T Shirts to prove it! After working towards a history degree at the University of Chicago, Harold later went to Law School at Loyola University, where he graduated magna cum laude, attending school at night and working full-time during the day at the Social Security Department. After Law Schoool, he clerked for the Honorable Allen Hartman, Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court. Discovering another deep interest, he worked for the Post-Conviction Division (now Legal Resource Division) of the Cook County Public Defender, taking on some of the most difficult cases. He felt this was defending the constitutional right of every citizen to a fair representation. He won new trials for people convicted of murder in at least seven separate cases. His most famous case was that of Alton Logan who was incarcerated 26 years for a murder he did not commit. Logan was freed and his case was featured in a segment of “60 Minutes” in which Harold appeared. Harold went on to lecture at many educational institutions about difficulties in the legal system as evidenced by that case. Harold was also active in the committee involved in reviewing the Chicago Police as well as the Constitution Society. What facts and figures fail to convey, however, was the breadth and depth of Harold’s extraordinary compassion for other human beings. Whether an innocent prisoner languishing forgotten in jail, an elderly relative alone, a young child misunderstood, or a nervous legal intern trying to fit in, Harold had a smile and comfort for them all. His colleagues describe him as “beloved” due to his unflagging efforts on behalf of others. Never too tired; never too busy, he was there for them all. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Carol Weinberg, his daughters, Elizabeth and Katherine Winston, his brother and sister in law, Marvin and Ellen Winston of New Jersey, and his nieces and nephews, Emily Winston, Sarah and Steve Platovskiy (Ava and Jake), and Jessica and Kevin Bulmer (Frankie). Charitable donations should be made to the U.S. Chess Trust, www.uschesstrust.org. To keep everyone safe and healthy, the chapel and interment are private. Harold’s funeral can be viewed on the Chicago Jewish Funerals website, live streamed on Wednesday, 2/17/2021 at 10 am CST, or later as indicated on their website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals-Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com