In Memoriam: Varujan “Barney” Anooshian, Sr.

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Varujan "Barney" Anooshian Sr., who taught kinesiology for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1986, has died. He was 95.
Varujan “Barney” Anooshian Sr., who taught kinesiology for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1986, has died. He was 95.

Varujan “Barney” Anooshian, Sr., who taught kinesiology for nearly three decades at Cal Poly Pomona and had a scholarship established in his name, died Dec 4. He was 95.

Anooshian, pictured with his wife Delinda, founded the university’s Motor Development Clinic and has a scholarship in his name.

Anooshian, a longtime Claremont resident, began his teaching career as a professor of physical education and kinesiology at the university in 1958. While on campus, he coached tennis, baseball, football, junior varsity baseball, water polo and swimming and is a member of Cal Poly Pomona’s Athletics Hall of Fame. Anooshian served as head of the university’s physical education department in 1962. He retired in 1986.

The World War II Marine veteran founded the university’s Motor Development Clinic and has a scholarship in his name that is awarded annually to students in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion.

The Fresno native earned his bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University, a master’s degree from Claremont Men’s College and a doctorate from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

His wife of 66 years, Delinda M. Anooshian, preceded him in death in 2012. Anooshian is survived by his three sons Jerry (wife Linda), Joe (wife Janet) and Var (wife Marilyn); grandchildren Michael Kelly, Tara Mazzacano, Cameron Tieslau, Ben Anooshian, and Kari Anooshian; and nine great grandchildren Lola, Lucy and Stella Tieslau; Brady, Bella, and Carter Anooshian; and Andrew, Caitlin and Madison Kelly.

The viewing will be on Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Todd Memorial Chapel in Claremont. Services are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Oak Park Cemetery, 410 Sycamore Ave., in Claremont.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that gifts be made to the Anooshian Motor Development endowed scholarship (U40371) to support students in the Kinesiology and Health Promotion department at Cal Poly Pomona. Gifts can be made payable to the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation and mailed to Cal Poly Pomona Development, Attention: Melissa Martinez, PO Box 3121, Pomona, CA 91769 or made securely online for the Barney Anooshian Endowment for Motor Development Clinic (U40371).