San Jose City Council ended Tuesday’s meeting in honor of Lawrence Fan, San Jose State’s sports information director who died on Feb. 21.
Fan worked at the university for 42 years as the primary media relations contact for the
San Jose State athletics programs.
City council also honored DeJon Packer, San Jose Police officer and former SJSU running back who died on Sunday night at 24 years old.
“Today is a day of mourning,” Esparza said. “We lost two incredible people of the Spartan and San Jose family, but we also must honor them today.”
District 7 Councilmember Maya Esparza said Lawrence Fan was a beloved part of the SJSU community.
“Lawrence, his passion and dedication to his profession and [SJSU] was unmatched and this was exemplified in his achievement of attending over 500 consecutive [SJSU] football games,” Esparza said. “ . . . For over 40 years, Lawrence did not miss a single game.”
Fan’s family was in attendance during the ceremony, including Lilian Chou, Fan’s sister.
Chou spoke about Fan’s accomplishments, including being the first Chinese-American inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame in 2012 and being given the organization’s Arch Ward award for outstanding contributions in the field of college sports information.
“I had the privilege to be there in St. Louis, at that monumental event,” she said.
Other members of Fan’s family attended the meeting including his brother Stephen Fan, sister-in-law Landa Fan, nephew Jonathan Fan and niece Jenny Camburn along with her husband Thomas Camburn.
Chou also mentioned several other of Fan’s accomplishments.
“In 2013, Lawrence was honored with the Trailblazer award by Procida presented 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 [College Sports Information Directors of America],” she said. “And again, I was there in Orlando to see the recognition from his professional organization, for his deep devotion to mentorship.”
She said Fan also mentored many other university interns in the sports information office.
Spartan coaches were in attendance, including football head coach, Brent Brennan.
“[Fan] was this incredible tornado of positivity and optimism and funny goofy mannerisms,” Brennan said. “He would always cheer me on from the back when I had to talk to a group of people.”
John Kennaday, men’s golf head coach, also spoke about Fan during the meeting, who Kennaday said he considered his best friend.
Kennaday first came to SJSU in 1985 and was appointed head coach in 2005. As a student golfer, he said he met Fan in the first day or two he was there.
“He really was a bit of a big brother and best friend all at the same time. As a student athlete coming into [SJSU], I wasn't really prepared for big boy golf or big boy athletics,” Kennaday said. “Didn't even know that a sports information director existed. We didn't really have much of that where I came from and Lawrence taught me the ropes.”
Council members said the “outpouring of love” continues to echo throughout San Jose for Fan.
“His dry humor and infectious smile are embedded in every story and every memory and his kindness and care for others,” Councilmember Esparza said.
In his tribute, Kennaday said Lawrence was a true fan of sports and “he was there for everyone.”
“I want to leave you a thought that Lawrence Fan may have been one of the most appropriately named gentlemen in this way, because if you think about the word ‘fan,’ it's short for ‘fanatic’ . . .” he said. “To me, Lawrence was the ultimate fan of human potential and achievement that I've ever met.”
