In Memoriam: Baruch Elias
Long-time Long Beach City College track and field coach Baruch Elias passed away on December 6, 2011 at the age 90. Elias was a world-renowned track and field coach who served at LBCC for over 25 years.
Long-time Long Beach City College track and field coach Baruch
Elias passed away on December 6, 2011 at the age 90. Elias was a
world-renowned track and field coach who served at LBCC for over 25
years.
He leaves his son, Elias; daughter-in-law, Norma; granddaughter,
Rebecca (21); grandson, Baruch (18); sister, Stella (82); his
supportive family and friends, and his family of athletes and
coaches. He was married 57 years to Marika, who passed in 2008.
Elias was born in Romania and was an international track and field
champion as well as a professional soccer player.
As a coach, Elias was designated a Merited Coach in 1971, the
highest Romanian coaching qualification. When he arrived in the
United States, Elias brough with him numerous advaced coaching
techniques.
Elias came to LBCC in 1978 along with former head coach Ron
Allice. Together, they coached 11 state championship teams, and 23
athletes won individual state titles under Elias'
mentoring.
LBCC never lost a conference team title and claimed 14 Southern
California championships. Elias stayed on as an assistant at LBCC
until 2005, when he was well into his 80s.
"His life was dedicated to improving people's skills in track and
field," Allice, now head coach at USC, told the Long Beach
Press-Telegram. "He's probably one of the most beloved coaches,
especially in track and field, in this city."
This past summer, Elias was inducted into the California Community
College Track and Field Hall of Fame.
A scholarship in his name has been established by the Long Beach City
College Foundation. For information on donating to the
scholarship, please call (562) 938-4634.
