Ken Isaak, 59, longtime Fresno Pacific SID, passes away due to leukemia
Courtesy www.sunbirdathletics.com
Longtime Fresno Pacific Sports Information Director Ken Isaak died Thursday after a year-long battle with leukemia. He was 59.
Isaak was the school's full-time SID from 1991 to 2007. Since then he has served as Fresno Pacific's Director of Financial Aid.
Soon after he began his sports information duties in 1991, Isaak compiled FPU's sports history, then turned his attention to the Golden State Athletic Conference. He completed the GSAC Record Book in 1997 and also served as the chair of the GSAC Sports Information Directors. He served as the president of the NAIA-SIDA from 2001 to 2003.
Isaak was well known as an innovator in sports information. He originated the Sunbirds Sportsline and authored and maintained FPU's presence on the World Wide Web. His publications have won numerous NAIA Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA) and College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) awards.
In July 2003 Isaak was honored by his NAIA peers as the recipient of the Clarence "Ike" Pearson Award. The award, honoring years of faithful and distinguished service and outstanding achievement, is the NAIA's highest award in the field of Sports Information.
A native of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, Isaak graduated from Port Coquitlam High School in 1969, then enrolled at (then) Fresno Pacific College in 1973.
After a 10-month missions stint in the Philippines under the auspices of World Vision International, he completed a bachelor's degree in 1976. He served as the college's Director of Financial Aid for five years (1979 to 1984) and after a seven year hiatus returned to the school in 1991.
A memorial service is planned for Wednesday, April 21, 3:00 p.m. at Butler Church in Fresno.