Hall of Fame Hoops Coach George Terzian Passes Away at 83

George Terzian, a basketballer who made his mark on the sport at two emblematic Pasadena schools before his induction to the State Coaches Association Hall of Fame, has passed away at the age of 83.

The local sports legend died at his Altadena home Dec. 15, reportedly succumbing to lung cancer.

Terzian coached the boy’s basketball program at Pasadena High School for 17 years, leaving behind two CIF crowns and four finals appearances for a legacy, before moving on to Pasadena City College.

There, he became the winningest coach in Lancer’s basketball history. In 20 seasons at the helm Terzian won 332 games before his aforementioned induction to the State Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006.

Robert Lewis, sports information director at PCC, met Terzian upon his arrival to campus in 1991, and worked with him until the latter’s retirement in 2004.

“George was a very technical coach and well-respected,” Lewis said in an interview. “He just kind of commanded respect with his players, the student athletes, and had great success, especially earlier in his career.”

Specifically, Terzian led the Lancers to the state finals in 1983, where they lost in triple overtime to Cerritos College. Many of his players, said Lewis, went on to become prep coaches in their own right.

One was Joe Peron, PCC’s current women’s basketball coach, who has directed that very successful program for 24 years. He was also on that finals-making 1983 squad.

Terzian ran a tournament called the Crown City Classic at PCC every December. His passing, Lewis noted, occurred on the same weekend the contest was usually held.

That competition was convened in the now-razed Patterson Gymnasium and boasted a “rather unique” hospitality room, he recalled. “His wife Denita would put out a lot of Armenian food, which is fantastic. Armenian pizza, the best rice pilaf ever.”

Apart from grooming a next generation of coaches, Terzian coached Michael Cooper at Pasadena High; the legendary defensive standout “Coop” of the 1980s Showtime Los Angeles Lakers.

Terzian was inducted to PCC’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

“He was an amazing man,” said great-grandniece Stephanie Lynn Johnson. “He was very close to God, his family and his grandchildren, and his kids, and me and my mom.”

Johnson highlighted her great uncle’s travels to Armenia, where his roots were, and where he did humanitarian work.

George Terzian is survived by his wife Danita Letts Terzian, two children, Todd and Melissa, and three grandchildren, Jonathan, Benjamin and Jasmine.

Services for Terzian are expected to be held in January after the holiday season.