Historian, Collector, Curator, and U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee (2008)
The U.S. table tennis family mourns the passing of Charles “Chuck” Hoey, a man whose dedication to the history of our sport left an indelible mark on generations of players, coaches, fans, and scholars.
A Collector and Historian of Global Standing
Chuck was inducted into the U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008 as a Contributor. Watch the video of his induction courtesy of Scott Gordon. He earned that recognition through decades of careful collecting and preservation across table tennis, tennis, and badminton. His Racket Sports Heritage Collection became one of the world’s most significant private archives, admired by museums, scholars, and collectors alike. He was also the editor of Table Tennis Collector Magazine from Issue 40-100.
The praise he received was extraordinary:
- The Smithsonian Institution recognized the “complete and competent coverage” and cultural value of his archive.
- IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch congratulated him personally and encouraged displaying his work at the Olympic Museum.
- Authors and experts such as Jeanne Cherry, Gerald Gurney, and Janet Newberry described his collection as a “marvelous sports history time capsule,” “extraordinary breadth and depth,” and “unique and historic.”
His work was showcased in major exhibitions in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Tokyo (1990–1991), where dignitaries including His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino and President Samaranch recognized his contribution to preserving racket sport history.
Curator of the ITTF Museum
Chuck’s life’s work reached its global pinnacle as Curator of the ITTF Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he oversaw a collection of more than 8,000 artifacts. In 2018, he became Honorary Curator when the ITTF Museum merged with China’s national collection and relocated to Shanghai. His vision and diligence ensured the preservation of irreplaceable pieces while also expanding public access through exhibits and digital archives.
Together with his close friend Roy SeGuine, who passed in 2018, Chuck developed an online version of the collection, allowing fans and historians worldwide to appreciate the sport’s heritage.
During the opening ceremonies Chuck received a special plaque, appointing him Honorary Curator of both the new ITTF Museum and the China Table Tennis Museum. Chuck shared, “I am humbled and grateful for this honor, and will do my best to serve the museums in the future.”
“He was much, much more of a historian than I was… I admired his passion year after year to do the most conscientious job he could. I sympathized with him when I realized the repeated burden he’d taken on in showing, in sharing, in places far and wide, various irreplaceable pieces of his collection… How much of a parent’s responsibility he took on! I’m pleased that he could live life with a purpose that would serve self and others.”
Tim Boggan
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U.S. Table Tennis Historian and Hall of Fame Member
“I had the privilege of working with Chuck for 16 years, supporting him with the ITTF Museum. Although I never had the chance to visit in person, we spoke often by phone and text. Chuck would let me know what was needed, and I would gather the items and ship them to him in Lausanne. Helping Chuck was always exciting. One of my proudest contributions was helping the museum acquire the awards and mementos of Jimmy McClure from Nell, since they lived near us in Florida.
In 2006, I was honored to be appointed the first woman Ambassador of the ITTF Museum—a recognition that came because of my work with Chuck. Supporting him was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. His passion was contagious, and his friendship a gift I will always treasure.”
Caron Leff, ITTF Museum Ambassador
Early Connection to the Game
I first met Chuck in 1976 at the Northern Virginia Table Tennis Club, where we played every Friday night at the Arlington Community Center. His style reflected the Washington, D.C. tradition of the era – steady chopping, patient defense, and well-timed pick-hits. For me, a young player then beginning my competitive journey, those sessions were as much about absorbing the culture of the sport as they were about learning strokes.
Chuck’s kindness went far beyond the table. As my career milestones came, making my first US World Team in December of 1984, winning my first U.S. Men’s Singles title in 1985, qualifying for the inaugural Olympic table tennis team in 1988; Chuck celebrated by giving me gifts from his historic collection. These keepsakes weren’t simply tokens; they symbolized his belief that history and heritage give meaning to present achievement.
Sean O’Neill
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US Table Tennis Hall of Fame, President
Gift of VINTAGE NIXON / Mao Ping Pong Paddle Set TOY VINTAGE CHAMPION PRESIDENT for making first World Championships Team in 1984
Gift of a framed early table tennis advertisement from The Sphere in 1901 from England for winning U.S. Men’s Singles in 1985.
Final Gift – The new Game of Ping Pong or Gossima – a boxed set of the with 2 vellum paddles, 2 balls and a net gift for qualifying for the 1988 US Olympic Table Tennis Team.
Here is confirmation that Chuck was pretty good in Chess as well! Beating Bobby Fischer in a Pittsburgh exhibition match On March 15, 1964 and making it into Sports Illustrated the following issue on March 30 as a 19-year-old!
