Monday, March 14, 2011

Richard Minasian; High School Athletic Director

Richard Minasian; High School Athletic Director June 18, 1993, Los Angeles Times Richard L. (Dick) Minasian, a Burbank High School athletic director and teacher for more than three decades, has died at his Laguna Beach home. He was 85. A Burbank resident from 1938 to 1970, Minasian died Tuesday of congestive heart failure, said his granddaughter, Dana L. Morris. Born in Fresno, Minasian received his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1933 from USC, where he was a three-year varsity letterman in baseball. He received a master's degree from USC two years later. In 1938, Minasian joined the staff of Burbank High School, where during his 32-year tenure he served as director of physical education and taught life science, biology and physical education. He also coached several sports, including football and baseball. While a Burbank resident, Minasian was a member of the Burbank Lions Club, the Valley Trojan Club and Westminster Presbyterian Church. He retired in 1970 and moved to Laguna Beach, where he was a member of the Orange County Trojan Club and Community Presbyterian Church in San Juan Capistrano. Minasian is survived by his wife of 62 years, Viola; two daughters, Paula Morris of Burbank and Sandra Stenius of Eugene, Ore; a brother, Arthur L. Minasian of Encino, and four grandchildren. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Community Presbyterian Church, 32202 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano. Graveside services will follow at 3 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a scholarship being established in Minasian's name. Additional information is available through his daughter, Paula Morris

2 comments:

  1. His treatment of some "not jock" students and sworn to secrecy sessions in gym class as what to do to those that don't fit into his vision of America. His wandering in showers with guys to make men of them ???(Only Coach that did that). Complaints to principle of Burbank High were never fully investigated and Paperwork on complaints were conveniently destroyed so as never would came out in his lifetime. A number of blogs and Emails have shown that all was not well at Burbank High School in 1950s-1980s. If you weren't part of the Burbank Elitist family or happened to be Spanish,Indian or Black . YOU WERE BULLIED BY students and teachers.

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  2. Before I got into track and cross country I had a P.E. class with him. He had me stand on the diving board and I was to dive backwards into the pool. I could not swim -and was afraid of diving into a pool I could not see. Minasian didn't care. He said if I didn't do it he would fail me for the whole semester. I said fine and he gave me the only F I had in High School. I stood up to him and got punished for it. But I later wore my Cross Country letterman's jacket with pride. I wonder if he saw me wear it? The above student was one who had difficulty with this guy also :) Bingham class of 1967

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