Samuel Bedrosian

DR. SAMUEL S. BEDROSIAN OBITUARY

Dr. Samuel Bedrosian of South Haven, Michigan died Monday, February 2, 2015 at the Inn of Freedom Village, Holland, Michigan. He is survived by wife Carolyn and daughters Ruth (Mike) Matteson of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Nancy (Mark) Pollard of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Carrie (Michael) Burns of Ft. Myers, Florida and five grandsons.

A life-long educator, he donated his body to medical science. A memorial service will be held in South Haven, Michigan at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Holland, 270 Hoover Blvd, Holland, MI 49423.

Dr. Bedrosian graduated from Northern Illinois University where he played on conference championship baseball teams. He earned a PhD in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from the University of Utah in 1973.

He was a member of American Legion Post #49 and served as chairman of the city of South Haven’s Zoning Board of Appeals and of the Parks and Recreation Committee. He volunteered at South Haven High School as the game manager at athletic events. At Hawkshead Golf Course he conducted golf camps for children and gave private golf lessons.

At Western Michigan University, he taught classes in Athletic Administration on the graduate level and supervised student teaching programs in the Physical Education Department. At Hope College, he coached the varsity women’s golf team.

Prior to moving to South Haven, he was the Athletic Director at Central College in Pella, Iowa where he managed a 17-sport NCAA Division III program. As Professor of Physical Education, he taught classes in Exercise Science.

Dr. Bedrosian spent the majority of his professional career in Aurora, Illinois. He was a major player on the Sealmasters softball team which won the World Championships in 1961 and in 1962 when he was the director of Professional and College Recruitment and Program Director of all managerial training programs at Stephens-Adamson Mfg.

At Aurora University, a plaza has been named in his honor of his more than 30 years of service as Athletic Director, head of the Physical Education Department, the Intramural Director, a professor, and coach.

“Dr. B” coached the AU women’s varsity softball team to 12 NIIC championships and 8 NCAA Division III regional playoffs and one NCAA Final 4 national tournament.

He served on the NCAA Executive Committee as the Division III Representative for many years and as chair of NCAA Central Region Ranking and Selection Committee for softball. He was the Division III Representative on the NCAA National Recruiting Committee and the NCAA Division III Championships Committee. He was president of Northern Illinois Intercollegiate Conference, 1986-88. He also represented NAIA on the United States Collegiate Sports Council (1976 World University Games).

Dr. Bedrosian was inducted into 3 Athletic Halls of Fame: two at Northern Illinois University and one at Aurora University.