Robert William Thomsen's Obituary
Robert “Bob” Thomsen was born in San Jose California on November 4, 1929. He passed away on September 18, 2022 at the age of 92. He attended San Jose High School where he played football and wrestled. He married his high school sweetheart Rose Pereira and they raised six children together. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education and English in 1952. He then went on to received his Master’s Degree in Education from Cal Poly in 1953.
While attending Cal Poly, Bob earned five letters in football and wrestling from 1948-1950. He was a two-time Pacific Coast finalist at 177 lbs. He only lost two dual meets during his wrestling career at Cal Poly. Bob was also an ardent runner. He ran in over 6 San Francisco marathons. In 1984 he qualified for and ran in the Boston Marathon.
He was hired by Chabot College in the fall of 1962 after teaching and coaching wrestling at San Lorenzo High School for six years. While coaching at San Lorenzo, he coached Manny Fernandez who later went on to play football for the Miami Dolphins. Manny played on the 1972 and 1973 Super Bowl Championship teams for the Dolphins.
He coached at Chabot College from 1962-1969. In 1964 under the direction of Bob Thomsen, Chabot began its storied athletic history in the Golden Gate Conference by winning its first ever championship in the sport of wrestling for the Gladiators. His wrestling program started from humble beginnings and blossomed into one of the finest wrestling programs in the state. He had a dual meet record of 117-27- 4. His teams won four Conference Championships and five Northern California Championships. His teams also won 28 tournaments during his reign.
Bob still holds the California State Junior College record for consecutive dual meet wins with 48. Bob coached 2X state champion (Mike Remer) in 1963 & 1964, as well as state champion Paul Weston in 1968. He has coached many other state placers and his teams were consistently one of the most competitive in the state.
Bob always took immense pride knowing he helped mentor and coach Olympian, World Champion and AAU Champion Buck Deadrich. He always pointed with gratification to the number of former wrestlers who went on to become outstanding coaches in their own right. These include Mike Remer, who was a two-time junior college champion, NCAA Div II champion, NCAA Div I All-American and member of the California Wrestling Hall of Fame, two-time Olympian and 2005 California Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Buck Deadrich, Dennis Burns, Paul Weston and Eddie King, Bill Bolar and Ed Galigher, Zack Papachristos, one of the most respected and successful coaches in California wrestling history was mentored by Bob Thomsen.
Robert was a teacher in California for 53 years before he retired in 2005. He instituted many creative and diverse teaching techniques while teaching. The aerobic class he taught in the gym at Chabot College two times a week during the evenings averaged over 200 students per class. Bob had four text books published along with three other publications dealing with physical education and athletics.
Books:
Successful Teaching in Physical Education Classes.
Diet and Exercise for Fitness and Figure Control.
A Student Guide for Jogging and Running.
Body Conditioning and Figure Control.
Publications:
Updating Today’s Physical Education Program.
Perspective for Understanding the Process of Aging.
Developmental Program of Physical Activity and Exercise for the Elderly.
Robert is survived by his three sons, Michael Thomsen of Oregon, Dennis Thomsen of Castro Valley and Thomas Thomsen of Fremont, and his daughter Kathy Grover of Arizona. His sons Steven Thomsen and Danny Thomsen, as well as his wife Rose Joyce Thomsen preceded him in death. He had 13 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.
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