LaBrucherie, Former Coach of UCLA, Dies

Former UCLA football Coach Bert LaBrucherie died Wednesday in Laguna Hills of complications from heart surgery. He was 81.

A viewing will be held Friday night from 7 to 9 at O’Connor-Laguna Hills Mortuary, and a funeral Mass is scheduled for noon Saturday at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Laguna Hills.

LaBrucherie coached the Bruins in 1945-48, leading UCLA to a 10-0 season and the Pacific Coast Conference championship in 1946 before the Bruins lost to Illinois, 45-14, in the Rose Bowl.

That was the first game of the Big Ten’s Rose Bowl agreement with the PCC, which is now the Pacific 10 Conference.

Before taking the coaching job at UCLA, LaBrucherie coached at Los Angeles High School in 1929-44. He coached the Romans’ varsity football team in 1935-44, compiling a 67-10-2 record and winning seven City titles.

He finished his career by coaching football, track and cross-country at Caltech for 25 years until his retirement in 1973.

He leaves his wife, Enis, of Leisure World; a son, John, of Palos Verdes, and two daughters, Jeanne Gragg of Yorba Linda and Annette Flattery. He is also survived by two sisters, Verona and Jennie LaBrucherie, both of Laguna Hills.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the UCLA Athletic Fund or the Heart Assn.

Private entombment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.