Werner Schnyder as we remember him (Photo: Richard Kalosai)
by Ian Marshall, Editor
It is with great sadness that the death of Switzerland’s Werner Schnyder is announced; he passed away on Sunday 27th September. Born on Tuesday 19th September 1939, he was 81 years old.
Succeeding Hugo Urchetti in 1999 as Treasurer of the Swaythling Club International, a role he fulfilled in a quiet reserved manner with the utmost efficiency, his efforts were appreciated by Diane Schöler, the Honorary President of the Swaythling Club International and by her husband Ebby, the current President.
“We were privileged to work with Werner for so many years – from 1999 until 2019 when he retired from his duties as SCI Treasurer. He took care of the finances of our Club very well, increasing our assets but also accepting the necessary expenses for promoting table tennis and SCI. We will remember Werner as friend and true fan of our sport.” Diane and Ebby Schöler
A pillar of strength for his colleagues, he never craved the limelight, his prize being one of satisfaction in tasks completed to the full; any praise received was a bonus, never sought.
Between 1972 and 1992 he was a member of the Board of the Swiss Table Tennis Federation, first as President of the Technical Committee, then as Secretary General and finally three years as President.
He was the oldest living Honorary President of the Swiss Table Tennis Federation.
Meanwhile for the European Table Tennis Union, he was a member of the Youth Committee, in addition to being a member of the Organising Committee for the 1980 European Championships in Berne and 2002 World Veteran Championships in Lucerne. Furthermore, he served for several years on the ITTF Council.
Known for his administrative skills, he was no mean photographer; one of his photographs appears in the forthcoming edition of the Swaythling Club magazine, no.109 for October 2020. He was present in Bern 40 years when England’s John Hilton sensationally won the men’s singles title at the European Championships. Werner caught the moment.
Recently Werner had explained to Reto Bazzi, the Rules Expert for the Swaythling Club International, that during the pandemic time, he was experiencing problems moving and felt very weak.
He was found lying unconscious on the floor of his house.
A great servant to the sport of table tennis, especially the Swaythling Club International, Werner Schnyder is sadly missed.
Anton Lehmann – A tribute to Werner Schnyder (written in German)