James Salvatore Bosco (Fellow #218)
In April of 2011 Jim had been playing in his third match in a badminton tournament in North Carolina, winning as usual, when his incredible life came to a sudden end at the age of 84. A descendant of Italian immigrant parents, Jim was born in Lawrence, MA on October 5, 1927, with a passion for learning . . . higher education was inevitable for him.
Dr. Bosco attended Springfield College in Springfield, MA, where he met his lifelong partner and wife, Mariana who was to become his constant travel companion, his ever-present dance partner, and confidant. After receiving his BA in physical education, Jim earned his MS from the University of Illinois, and his PhD from the University of Massachusetts in exercise physiology in 1957. Jim then went to work as a faculty member at San Jose State University in California. For the next 10 years he taught at San Jose State while consulting and conducting research with aerospace researchers at the nearby National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Specifically, he studied methods to improve the exercise regimen for astronauts. He was a pioneer in the science behind exercising and a long-standing and vocal advocate for the benefits of physical activity.
In 1971, Jim became Dean for the college of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at California State University-Sacramento, where he was instrumental in unionizing faculty and the implementation of the California Faculty Association. He also created the James S. Bosco Underrepresented Incentive Graduate Endowment scholarship.
Perhaps most importantly, as a result of his passionate approach to teaching, Jim was an inspiration. Jim was beloved by all for his passion, integrity, competitiveness, fabulous stories, tenacious quest for what he believed was right, and his undying dedication to education, especially higher education. He was a quintessential role model for education and physical activity and an incredible academic.
Throughout the course of his career, Jim taught, coached, and administrated at the elementary, junior high, high school, and university levels for 40 years. He held many offices and received numerous awards. In the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, he was elected President, 1976-77, received their Honor Award in 1981, and their highest honor, the Verne Landreth Award, in 1986. He was a Fellow of the America College of Sports Medicine and the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education, now the National Academy of Kinesiology. Jim published and presented extensively.
Upon retirement, Jim focused on his lifelong passion, badminton, becoming masters world champion on several occasions beating some of finest players on the globe. From 2002 through 2010, Jim earned rankings in 18 different badminton categories and from 2008 through 1010 was undefeated in eight consecutive men’s singles events. He was inducted into the Senior Badminton Hall of Fame in 2005. Aside from academics, research, and education, Dr. Bosco’s avocation was badminton. According to former protogée and current Sac State Dean Fred Baldini “No one could play with him. He was phenomenal! He could play with people half his age and just toy with them.”
Moreover, Baldini said, “I think most of us can look back in our past and come up with a handful of people that had a significant impact on our lives. People who help shape us, who opened doors for us, who cared about us. Jim Bosco was one of those people; he has had a lasting impact on so many in so many ways. He modeled so many traits that I aspire to emulate today. He had high expectations for his students, the faculty in the department, and himself. He knew right from wrong and would not hesitate to take a stand for what he believed was right.
Dr. Bosco will be missed, but not forgotten. His legacy lives on through the thousands of people he touched; he was one of a kind.” Jim Bosco had one son, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
