Obituary of Amy W. League

Amy W. League, 77, a longtime resident of Maplewood, died of heart failure at St. Barnabas Medical Center on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. Funeral services will be held at Preston Funeral Home, 153 South Orange Ave., South Orange on Friday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. Visiting hours are Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Mrs. League was born in Anne Arundel County, Md., on March 24, 1931, to John Williams and Beulah Chase Williams. She married James L. League, Jr. on Aug. 27, 1955. She moved to New Jersey in 1985 and to Maplewood in 1990. A retired child care provider, Mrs. League was a U.S. Chess Federation certified chess coach and a certified club tournament director. In 1997, she founded the Hilton Chess Club for Children and was its instructor for five years. She was also an instructor for chess clubs at St. Joseph's School, Seth Boyden School and the Millburn Recreation Department. In 2000 and 2001 she organized children's chess tournaments which attracted participants from New York and New Jersey. Mrs. League was recognized for her work with children with two Maplewood Township Committee citations for outstanding community service. She was also an amateur photographer and held numerous photographic exhibits in New York and one in South Orange. Mrs. League is survived by her daughter, Barbara Velazquez, Ph.D.; brother, John Williams; sisters, Thelma Jones and Viola Fletcher; aunt, Martha Rae Greene, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and one Golden Retriever. She was predeceased by husband, James L. League, in 1989; sister, Louise Williams; uncle, James R. Chase; aunt, Hilda Simms, and sister-in-law, Ilda Northern.