DR. JOSE ANTONIO ELGORRIAGA

Dr. Elgorriaga was born in the small village of Endarlaza (Irun), Spain on July 16, 1927. The son of Juan and Isabel Elgorriaga, José had one sister, Maria Dolores. During the Spanish Civil War, the family fled into exile and began a new life in Hendaye, France, were José and his sister were educated through their high school years. With the help of his uncle, E.B Elgorriaga, of Madera, California, José was able to enter the United States on a student Visa. He enrolled at Fresno State College in 1949 where he excelled in his academic classes and contributed to the campus life in many areas. He was a member of the Blue Key Society, the Sigma Tau Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, the French Club, as well as the Spanish Club. José received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He matriculated to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he was given a teaching assistant's scholarship. There he earned a Masters Degree and a Doctorate Degree, Cum Laude both in Hispanic Literature. Jose's first job was at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where he taught Spanish and French Literature. He also gained notoriety as the young assistant soccer coach. José returned to Fresno in 1962 as an assistant professor in the Foreign Language Department at Fresno State. Throughout his tenure he served as chair of the Department on a rotating basis; He was credited with teaching and directing the thesis portion of the Masters Programs in Spanish, French and German which he started. All the time José was impacting the Language department with his energy and talent, he was encouraging excellence on the soccer field. He was the first coach at Fresno State to have a team ranked number one in the nation. Somewhere during this time, José became "Coach", not only to his players but to his associates and friends as well. Before his retirement in 1992, "Coach" received the Outstanding Professor Award, the Outstanding Lecturer Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award for Meritorious and Professional Promise. The California Foreign Languages teachers' Association presented José with the Outstanding Foreign Language Award in 1972, and in 1993 he was selected Professor of the Year in Arts and Humanities. The honor of Professor Emeritus came in 1999. He co-authored with Guitarist Juan Serrano, a book entitled Flamenco - Body and Soul, which was published by the CSUF Press in 1990. Both José and Juan gave many concerts throughout the valley combining the music of the guitar with the words of the poet Federico García-Lorca. Dr. Elgorriaga's accomplishments were not confined only to the classroom and the soccer field. His community involvement was vast and varied. He served with distinction on the boards of St. Agnes Hospital, Valley Children's Hospital, the Fresno Regional Foundation, the Boy's Club of Fresno, the Literacy Council, the Academy, the Metropolitan Art Museum, Fresno Philharmonic and Fresno Rotary. He was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. Not well known is the fact that "Coach" was a published poet, a critic and translator of poetry. He was the only American professor invited twice to judge the international poetry contest sponsored by the late King Badouin of Belgium and his wife Fabiola. He also co-authored with Professor Martin Paul, Rafael Alberti: Translation of a Collection of Poems and submitted articles on poetry and poets and was published by numerous periodicals and magazines. Sports Illustrated called José the embodiment of a Rennaissance Man in the classical sense. His friends and associates would agree that he is one of Fresno States greatest treasures. Actually, José belonged to the world with travels that took him to Spain to France to Latin-America. In college sports, we so often talk about the importance of student-athletes. Well, Dr. José Elgorriaga lived that belief, going down in history as one of the best professor-coaches the valley has ever known. The family also wishes to acknowledge the loving care provided by his team of care givers and St. Agnes Hospice. Dr. José "Coach" Elgorriaga is survived by Carmen, his wife of 55 years; his son, José Antonio Elgorriaga Jr.; his sister, Maria Dolores Elgorriaga of France; his cousins, Benita Quinn, of Orinda, Ben Elgorriaga and his wife Stella their children and grandchildren, of Madera, Angel and Margaret Elgorriaga of Fresno and their families. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law Carlos Noriega and his wife Diane, of Sandy, Or., and Daniel Noriega and his wife Pat, of Gilroy, Ca. their wives and families. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Monday, December 21, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Poverello House, PO Box 12225, Fresno, Ca. 93777-2225; The Fresno Rescue Mission, PO Box 1422, Fresno, Ca. 93716-1422; or the charity of your choice. NEPTUNE SOCIETY OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 1154 West Shaw Avenue Fresno, California (559)222-7764