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John Toomasian Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for John Toomasian
Lynda Huffman Key
September 5, 2025
He was one of my favorite professors!!
Greg Moreland
October 5, 2016
Historian, educator, and masterful conductor of the hardwood - learned a lot from this guy at FCC.
September 24, 2016
My dear American friend you leave a large gap in my life. What wonderful memories I have of you and your time coaching in New Zealand.
Rest in peace.
Paula Siegel
September 22, 2016
I had Mr. Toomasian for American History at FCC in 1976. He was one of my all-time favorite teachers, especially because of his wonderful sense of humor. 1976 was a presidential election year. Mr. Toomasian would often joke that if the American people would elect him president, he would be El Suprimo, Raquel Welch would marry him, and he could have all the Diet Pepsi he wanted.
I loved his clear-eyed perspective on historical events. (Actually, I wished he'd run for president; he'd have gotten my vote.)
I know I'm not the only student who loved him because on the last day of class, the students must have brought him 100 cans of diet Pepsi and built a pyramid of them on his desk. I made a poster for him with the slogan El Suprimo for president. Liberty, Equality, Diet Pepsi. Good-bye, Mr. Toomasian. I'll never forget you.
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Bobby Brooks
September 22, 2016
A Great man in my life. My heart goes out to the Toomasian Family. He was like a father to me. Now I coach high school basketball because of you. Thank you John Toomasian! R.I.P!
Coach Bob Brooks #shuffle
Marty (Harold) Olson
September 17, 2016
Coach John Toomasian
My deepest sympathies and best wishes for the family and friends of Coach John Toomasian!!
Coach Toomasian was a kind and caring person with many wonderful attributes. My name is Marty Olson and I played varsity basketball at Roosevelt High School, class of 1956 for Coach Toomasian and it was a wonderful experience that carried throughout my life as it did for my teammates. He was well-liked and respected by athletes and students as well as faculty. He had an open and outgoing personality that made him fun to be around. He was a terrific leader and continually challenged his students and basketball team to improve.
Coach Toomasian loved basketball. He was creative and was continually developing new strategies for the game and his team. He was a great disciplinarian but at the same time fun to be around. He instilled in you a desire to excel and improve. He also had a unique ability to relate to students. If they had personal problems, he endeavored to solve those problems to the best of his ability. He pushed us to the limits and made you better than you thought you could be. He made it really fun to play basketball and be challenged.
He was very engaging both individually and in a group. At basketball rallies in the gymnasium Coach Toomasian really shined when he introduced his basketball team to the students and faculty. He was a great communicator. He fancied himself as a good/great basketball player and he could prove it (He was about 30 years old). At one basketball rally in the gymnasium after delivering a speech, in front of the entire student body he went to the free-throw line, turned his back to the basket and threw/launched the basketball through the hoop without looking at the basket. I was convinced it was pure luck and said so. We accused him of practicing every night so that he would be able to come close to the basket. Anyway that is only one example of his engaging and fun loving personality.
Coach Toomasian attended several of our class reunions with the same free spirit that he exhibited when he was coaching basketball. I saw Coach Toomasian at the last reunion five years ago in 2011. It was a pleasure to see him and I was really glad he was there.
Coach Toomasian had a very productive life that had a major influence on many students/athletes and others. He inspired them to improve and achieve success and be all they could be.
We celebrate Coach John Toomasian's life, which he lived to the fullest extent!!! A loving memory of a wonderful person who inspired & improved others.
Marty (H.M.) Olson
RHS Class of 1956
Roosevelt High School
Cliff Eischen
September 17, 2016
Rest in peace John. You made a valuable contribution to many youth, including myself.
Marc Pittman
September 16, 2016
Mr. Toomasian taught me Civics in 1955 at RHS. He was an inspiration to me and I'm sure others who paid attention. He was firm but fair. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to all family and friends. RIP sir. The world is a lesser place without you.
Wayne Gomes
September 15, 2016
A great History teacher. I looked forward to his classes at FCC. A great sense of humor. He made a great impression on his students, and his athletes.
Stephens & Bean Chapel
September 14, 2016
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Dr Ken Ritter
September 14, 2016
John had the greatest sense of humor ever!I was fortunate and blessed to know and treat him the past 20 years.
I loved taking him to basketball games at Fresno State,it seemed everybody knew him!
He was truly a delightful man,I enjoyed our friendship!
Mike Gavaldon
September 13, 2016
Like so many others, I took Coach Toomasian's history class at Fresno City College, it was 1968. I needed a history credit to graduate from Fresno State. I was working at Channel 24 at the time and I was able to work his class into my schedule. One day he called me into his office to tell me he was giving me a D' on my term paper because I was disrespectful to our forefathers, I thought I was being funny. He gave me the opportunity to rewrite my essay which I did. As I was leaving his office I noticed a small picture of Raquel Welch on his desk, I guessed he was a fan. Part of my job at the TV station was to prepare the set for Nancy Allen's show the following afternoon, remember it was 1968. As I entered the store-room I saw a poster of Raquel Welch on the back wall, the one from One Million Years BC, it was like six feet tall. I asked, and they said I could have it. The next time I went to class I rolled it up, put my name on it, and put it on his desk in the lecture hall before he got there. I'll never forget the smile on his face when he opened it up.
I went on to be a film editor in Hollywood, and one day, guess who I met, yes it was her. She was in our post production facility working on her TV special.
I wish I could have told him I met Raquel Welch.
Rest in peace Coach, you were one of a kind.
September 12, 2016
John Toomasian was a dear family friend. He and my father taught together at F.C.C. When I was little, I used to attend the basketball games where John was the coach. Every time I saw him he would give me a stick of gum, even at my wedding reception! Mr. Toomasian was also one of my favorite teachers at F.C.C. He left a lasting impression on everyone he met and I will always remember him.
Barbara Beasley Sather
September 12, 2016
Coach T was my PE,History and Frosh basketball coach at SJM in 1950/51. He was a great teacher and mentor and will be dearly missed around Fresno. I met him at a function 7 years ago and he remembered me some 60 years later. I was quite impressed! Chuck Vanoncini
Carmen Perkins
September 11, 2016
My sincerest heartfelt condolences to the Toomasian family. Mr. Toomasian was my history teacher at FCC in the Fall of 1993. I loved the way he taught our history class and I certainly learned well from him. I recall telling him at end of semester that he made an lasting impression on me and I told him that my sister said he was her favorite teacher as well. He liked to share many stories with us during class which made the class time so interesting that I never wanted to miss a class. I will never forget that he recommended to us that we always try to remain abreast of the latest happenings in current culture and life. He told us to spend at least an hour each night reading in 15 minute increments about different subjects. Then, in each history test he gave us he included a question about a current event. He also shared with us a book he collected of newspaper cartoonist clippings which captured political satire of the day. Going through it you could almost see our lives in America and what we've gone through. Mr. Toomasian left a positive impression on me and I will always be grateful.
Terri Stivers
September 11, 2016
Just wanted to share my expression regarding John Toomasian, I had the great honor of spending time with John on many occasions....he would share many memories of his life including many people he came to know & care very much about! He was a Gentleman & quite the Character! He always had something to say about almost everything.....I will remember him with the fondest of memories.
Carol Ehat
September 11, 2016
My ol Rough Rider buddy...soooo enjoyed him at FCC, such a friend...Will look him up when it's my time to go home too..Love and light to his family, Carol Ehat
Gerry Kataoka
September 11, 2016
John was a wonderful history teacher, who put the value of education above sports.
Lynda Key
September 11, 2016
I would like to offer my condolence at your loss. Mr. Toomasian was my history teacher in 1963 at Fresno City College. I loved him and his sense of humor! I have thought about him over the years and talked about him as my favorite teacher in all of my college classes.
Jeremy Wright
September 11, 2016
I was in Mr. Toomasian's History class when the riots broke out in L.A. He made me want to be a history teacher. Mr. Toomasian made a difference!
Steve Strickland
September 10, 2016
Mr. Toomasian was the best history teacher I ever encountered in college. That was at Fresno City College. He was a gentle giant. He was a very tall man and had a voice to match. My wife and I both were one of history classes. We both remember the same things about him. He truly left a huge mark on the city, county and state. it's sad that he has gone on but we all will some day. I pray God will bless his family and all who knew and will miss this great man.
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