Bakjian, Commissioner of Officials at ’84 Olympics, Dies at 71

Andy Bakjian, a longtime Southern California track official and the commissioner of officials at the 1984 Olympic Games, died Monday in California Hospital Medical Center after a long illness. He was 71.

Bakjian was born in New Jersey and moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he graduated from Polytechnic High School. He later graduated from Chapman College and did graduate work at USC.

Bakjian coached football, baseball and track and field at Jefferson High, winning numerous city titles. In 1969, he was named commissioner of track officials for the Southern Pacific Assn.

In 1978, he became national commissioner of officials for The Athletic Congress. At the 1985 TAC convention, he was voted commissioner emeritus and an award was created in his name to honor the outstanding American track and field official.

The recent Times/GTE Indoor Games, which he customarily worked, were dedicated to him.

Bakjian is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters Deborah Backstrom and Cynthia Ann Sivas; a brother and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 3:45 p.m. at Memorial Chapel, Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Rose Hills Mortuary directing.