Photo via SJSU Athletics
By Max Bechtoldt – Executive Editor
Lawrence Fan, longtime associate athletics director for football communications & special projects, died Monday night. He was 67.
Fan worked at San Jose State for 42 years, starting as the sports information director for men’s athletics in 1980. In addition to working with Spartan football, he was also the media representative for men’s golf and water polo.
Fan was an encyclopedia of knowledge on San Jose State athletics. His dedication and love for the school was evident to everyone who came in contact with him for even the briefest time. As of fall of 2021, Fan worked over 500 consecutive football games. A streak that does not sound possible, but with Fan’s love for his work, it was.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of Lawrence Fan’s passing,” said The Spear co-founders Kavin Mistry and Daniel Reedy. “While we sparred as media relations and journalists often do, we are grateful for everything he did for us.”
Fan was the first Chinese American elected to the College Sports Information Directors Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2013, the same organization recognized Fan with its Trailblazer Award. The Trailblazer Award is given out annually to “an individual who is a pioneer in the profession and who has mentored and helped improve the level of ethnic and gender diversity within CoSIDA.”
“Lawrence was a Hall of Famer in life and work. The entire SJSU community is shocked from this news and we send the Fan family, all of our current and former student-athletes, staff and coaches, as well as his extended media family our condolences,” said San Jose State athletics director Jeff Konya in a statement.
In 2017, Fan received the CoSIDA President’s Award, which honors “exemplary service and leadership within the organization’s committee structure.”
“Lawrence is a legend in the sports industry and he devoted most of his life to promoting SJSU, the student-athletes and his colleagues,” said deputy athletic director Scott MacDonald. “Nobody cared more about this university than Lawrence Fan and he was beloved by all. I am better at what I do because of Lawrence and we will miss him very much.”
For Fan, it was all about the details, such as his now famous in media circles “Fan Cake,” which was served to all press members at SJSU basketball games. But with Fan it was also about the small things, such as a quick smile or a fun fact during a break in the action.