Willi Ellenberger was born on May 18th 1933 in Frankfurt Nied. After completing his education in business administration, he began his career at Farbwerke Hoechst, where he eventually was promoted to the level of a department manager. With his wife Hilde he enjoyed a lifelong marriage that resulted in one daughter. 

From the very beginning, Willi Ellenberger commited himself to our chess club. In the year 1961, he founded the SC 1961 König Nied together with four other chess friends, and from then onwards he enthusiastically and dedicatedly sacrificed a lot of his spare time to the club. Actually, it wasn't a sacrifice at all, as the chess club became his passion. From 1962 to 1982, he served as chairman for the club and helped it prosper and grow. In doing this, he never focused his attention solely on the 64 squares of the chess board and the advancement of the active members. Just as well did he take care of the sociable side of the club by organizing many events that also welcomed family and friends. His buzzling activity and his many initiatives shaped the club more than anything else. Of course he also was a sharp competitor at the chess board, which helped him win four club championships, two cup wins and five blitz titles and secured him a spot in the first team for the duration of his active career.

In addition to all of the above, Willi Ellenberger also assumed duties at the regional level. He was a board member of the Main-Taunus chess association as well as of the Vereinsring Nied. For the Hessian chess association, he oversaw the administration of player's licences, served as youth attendant and treasurer and organized the Hessian Championships of 1964 and 1965 as tournament director. For his merits, the Hessian chess association awarded him its golden badge of honour in 1967.

After having served as chairman of SC 1961 König Nied for twenty years, he passed the baton on in 1982. For his merits, he received the golden badge of honour of the club and was elected honorary chairman. On top of that, he was awarded the Ehrenbrief of the state of Hesse.

There is just one little blemish in his reputation, which we Frankfurters are willing to overlook graciously: He was a supported of Kickers Offenbach.

During his last years, he had retired from active chess for health reasons. Yet he always retained his bond with the club and contributed support and advice. Willi Ellenberger passed away on April 4th 2004 at 70 years of age after a short but severe illness. The club, whose head, heart and soul he had been over such a long time, will sorely miss him. By means of our yearly Willi Ellenberger Memorial tournament, we will honour his memory.