Quick Facts
VirgoBiography
Allan S. Kwartler (September 10, 1917 – November 11, 1998), born in New York City, was an American sabre and foil fencer.
He was Pan-American sabre champion, 3-time Olympian, and twice a member of sabre teams that earned 4th-place in Olympic Games (1952, 1960).
Fencing career
Kwartler began fencing at Wayne State University under Bela de Tuscan at age 28. He continued at Michigan State University under Charles Schmitter, while he earned a degree in 1948 in bacteriology.
He returned to New York City in 1948, when he joined Salle Santelli. His coaches were Giorgio Santelli in sabre, and Ed Lucia in foil.
He was the United States' most consistent 2-weapon fencer in the 1950s and 1960s, a several-times US National Championships finalist in sabre and foil.[1]
In 1953 he was 2nd in foil in the National Championships; in 1954 he was 2nd in sabre and 4th in foil; in 1956 and 1960 he placed 2nd in sabre; and in 1959 3rd in sabre.
He was nationally ranked 17 times in either foil or sabre between 1951 and 1965, and was a member of 10 U.S. national championship teams.
Olympics
Kwartler fenced in the Olympics in 1952, 1956, and 1960.
Pan American Games and Martini-Rossi
His best international success was winning the 1959 Pan American Games individual sabre title in Chicago. He also won team gold medals at the 1955 and 1959 Pan Am Games. He was a silver medalist in team foil and individual foil finalist (5th place) at the 1955 Games. Kwartler also was a finalist in the first Martini-Rossi world cup sabre event (1961).
Maccabiah Games
In 1950 and 1953 Kwartler, who was Jewish, was selected for the Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning the sabre championship in 1950 and the foil in 1953.
Veteran Fencing
Kwartler was the veterans champion in sabre several times at the Empire State Games.
Official and Fencing Association
He was a widely respected official, and presided at the individual sabre finals in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Kwartler was chairman of the AFLA's (predecessor to the current USFA) Metropolitan Division (1958–60) and AFLA national secretary (1960–63). He remained active in the affairs of the Westchester Division of the USFA and the Empire State Games.
Coaching
Kwartler was also a widely respected coach, who coached in the methods of the Italian School for sabre, foil, and épée fencing. He coached at Salle Santelli, Brooklyn Poly (1965–80),"Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2003-05-19. Retrieved 2013-08-18. SUNY (Purchase), the US Military Academy at West Point, Rockland Center for the Arts, and the Westchester Fencing Club. He was named USFCA coach of the year in the Middle Atlantic Collegiate Fencing Association in 1994.
Death
Allan Kwartler died on November 11, 1998, and was survived by his wife, Connie, his son and two daughters, and four grandchildren.
Halls of Fame
He was inducted into the Yonkers Hall of Fame in 1980, the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and the USFA Hall of Fame in 2001.
Miscellaneous
He had careers in advertising sales and insurance underwriting.