Fischer, Ex-UCLA AD, Dies

Bob Fischer, UCLA’s athletic director from 1980-83, between J.D. Morgan and Peter Dalis, died Sunday of congestive heart failure at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. Fischer, who lived in Encino, was 78.

Fischer joined the UCLA athletic department in 1964 as assistant athletic director and became associate director in 1978. When Morgan retired in 1979, Fischer was appointed acting athletic director.

The next year he got the permanent job. He retired in 1983 and was succeeded by Dalis, the current athletic director. During Fischer’s stint as athletic director, UCLA won eight NCAA team titles, including five in one year, as well as the 1983 Rose Bowl.

“Bob was mainstay in athletic department,” former coach Terry Donahue said. “He had a great love for the university, was a class guy, a wonderful guy, a lot of fun, and will be missed terribly.”

A native of San Francisco, Fischer graduated from UCLA in 1945.

Fischer is survived by his wife, Liliane; four children, Larry, Diane, Michele and Denise, and 10 grandchildren.

A Mass will be said Friday at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church in Encino. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the UCLA athletic department.