Norman Vartkes Manoogian
Feb. 10, 1931-Nov. 20, 2022
Palo Alto, CA

Norman Vartkes Manoogian, 91, passed away at home on November 30, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jone Aileen Manoogian; his children Shannan Johnson and Brian Manoogian; grandchildren Shaelyne Johnson, Luke Johnson, Nic Manoogian, Siena Manoogian, and Grace Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was born in Granite City, Illinois, the youngest son of Melkon and Varsenig Manoogian. The family, with brothers George and Edward, moved to Fresno, California and then to Los Angeles where Norman attended Dorsey High School and earned a scholarship to play football at Stanford University in 1949. He played in the 1952 Rose Bowl, class of 1953, and was inducted into the Stanford Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

He earned a Masters Degree in Physical Education from Stanford and proudly served in the Marine Corps. Norm coached the defensive line in Quantico, Virginia at the Marine Corps Academy, and began his teaching and coaching career at Ravenswood High School in East Palo Alto, transferring to Foothill Community College in 1967.

Norm was passionate about fitness, his students, athletes he coached, and his family. He pioneered community college classes in stretching, conditioning, and running, and continued teaching weight training until his retirement at 78.

He also was an outstanding craftsman, adding onto and maintaining the house and garden he and his wife bought in 1957, building room additions, decks, cabinets, landscaping, and helping his family with their many projects as well.

Norm and his wife enjoyed numerous backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada, visiting the Hawaiian Islands, a four month sabbatical from teaching to visit fitness facilities in Europe, and adventuring around the United States to visit family, friends, and many spectacular sites in our national parks and museums.

As a husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, mentor, and friend, Norm was patient, kind, humble, generous, and always did his utmost to bring out the best in others. He will be remembered and forever loved for his strength, courage, ethics, generosity, and his joy in the simple pleasures of life.

Tags: veteran, teacher/educator, sports, public service