And again sad news from Odessa.
On February 1, at one o'clock in the afternoon (New York time), the director of the Worldwide Club of Odessits, Garik Barats, called and said in a breaking voice:
"Our Valerochka is gone...
Valera Khait is pass away..."
The famous captain of the famous Odessa KVN (Club of the cheerful and resourceful) team of 1966-1970 is gone.
I had many connections with Valery Isaakovich.
But I can't write anything yet...
It's sad...

* * *

The legendary KVN captain Valery Khait has gone forever into the history of Odessa

The Worldwide Club of Odessits sadly announces the death of Valery Isakovich Khait on February 1, 2025.

Captain of the legendary KVN team of Odessa from 1966 to 1971.

Head of the Odessa KVN champion teams of 1972 (Odessa team under the flag of the Institute of National Economy) and 1987 (First Team of Gentlemen of Odessa State University).

One of the founders of Odessa "Humorina" - 1972.

Laureate of the "Golden Ostap" Award (as editor of the humorous magazine " Fountain") in the nomination "The funniest printed publication" - 2006.

Author of books of lyric poetry and prose - a volume of essays and memoirs "Reader's Book" (2009), as well as humorous collections.

Compiler of the volume "Odessa Humor" in the "Anthology of Satire and Humor of the 20th Century" (2004).

Compiler of the volume "The Great Fountain of Odessa Humor" (2009).

Compiler of the volume "Odessa Humor. The 21st Century" (2015).

Compiler of the volume "The Great Book of Odessa Humor" (2016).

Author of the idea of a nationwide fundraising and coordinator of the project to install a monument to Isaac Babel in Odessa. (The monument was unveiled on September 4, 2011).

Odessa representative of the "Civil Diplomacy" movement (Initiator and author of the project Meeilis Kubits, Tallinn).

Initiator of the establishment of the Odessa International Literary Prize named after Isaac Babel (since 2017).

Editor-in-chief of the Odessa humor magazine "Fountain" (since 1997).

Vice-president of the Worldwide Club of Odessits since 1990.