Jack Rose remembered at memorial

Inside the Pyramid Saturday, the usual scoreboard was replaced with a gigantic computer picture of former CSULB track coach Jack Rose, at a ceremony held in his honor after he choked to death at the age of 66, during dinner last Monday night.

Rose was head coach for the CSULB track team for 17 years. He served as an assistant coach for 11 years and was a full-time professor of Physical Education for 36 years. He was at CSULB from 1956 to 1973 and was coordinator of the track program until 1981.

Rose did things his way. He rode his bicycle to campus every day and found positives in everything that he touched, son, Mark Rose said as he spoke at the memorial.

"He was a legend," said Long Beach City College track coach Jim Richardson.

If the 700 people at the Pyramid Saturday were any indication, Rose was not only a legend to the coaches but he was a legend to others as well.

"One time a police officer pulled me and my father over. I was speeding pretty good, but after my father was done talking to the cop he let us go with a warning and had a smile on his face," said Mark Rose.

Rose's son Mark Rose quoted one of his fathers own five rules to live by. "Smile a lot . . . it costs nothing and is beyond price."

Those words were printed on the memorial programs.

"He just always did the right thing," son Scott Rose said.

Rose cannot only be remembered for his contributions to athletics, but also for his contributions to people.

"His deeds are his monument. His life is our inspiration," son, Scott Rose said.

Rose was the North American Finals Director of Hershey's Track and Field Youth Program. In 1981 he received a Bronze Medal from the International Olympic Academy for academics in Olympia, Greece. He was also a pre-Olympic coach in Central Europe in 1968.

Rose served as ceremonies coordinator for Track and Field at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. He was elected to the University and City Hall of Fame for his work with students and sports.

The memorial at The Pyramid was attended by Rose's wife, Susan; his brother, Dr. Richard Rose; his sister-in-law, Mary Helen Rose; his sons, Michael, Mark and Scott; his daughter-in-laws, Robin and Kelley; and his grandchildren, Christina, Caroline, Taylor, Brennan, Jarrett, Tanner, Hunter and Kennady.

The memorial program quoted Rose with past words. "The Olympic Games really mean something to me. It is a demonstration of what sport in its purest form should be. I may never finish this work, but I will get it started. It will be up to you to keep the spirit going, and like the torch, carry it high."