Arthur Shahzade

Arthur Shahzade, or “Shahz”, as most of the community called him, was born July 27th, 1926, in Centerville, CA, at the Sanger Hospital. Born to Armenian immigrants, Aram & Rose Shahzade, Shahz was raised right outside of the Fresno area. He graduated from Roosevelt High in 1944 and was shipped off with the U.S. Coast Guard 2-weeks after his graduation to assist in the war. He returned safely and attended Fresno State where he played for Pete Beiden, who’s the one who encouraged him to continue baseball and to consider coaching! Shahz had a love for the outdoors thinking he may become a Park Ranger but ultimately decided to major in Biology and get his teaching credentials. This is where he realized he could teach biology which he loved and coach baseball which would keep him outdoors which was the other things he loved in life. He played a year professionally with the Fresno Cardinals in the 1940’s and then played 6 years in the Canadian Leagues. This was also his introduction to Alaska, where he would have a summer home that he would retreat to each year during the summer school break. In fact, he turned down the Head Coaching job at COS 3 times, because he wasn’t about to give up his Alaksa fishing trips! He vacationed there every year since! 

Shahz began his iconic teaching career at Mt. Whitney in 1951 teaching Science/Biology, Phys Ed, Geometry, Astronomy, Algebra & more! During that same time, he held the position of Head Baseball Coach from 1951-1976. He ended his career in 2000 becoming the longest tenured employee in Mt. Whitney history! He also oversaw the building of the Mt. Whitney Observatory named in his honor along with the Baseball Field also named in his honor. Shahz is a member of distinction in both the Fresno State Athletic Hall of Fame and the Mt. Whitney Hall of Fame as well as the recipient of the Visalia Fox Theatre 2022 Golden Icon Award. But what made Shahz a stand out to all that came before and after him, was the fact he wasn’t just a teacher or a coach, but he set the example, the highest of standards of an educator, a mentor who truly cared about the whole individual, not just their education in science or whatever skill he was teaching or coaching. His passion was obvious, it was tangible, but most importantly, it was contagious! He helped many discover their passion, their personal value, their self-respect, and humanity. 

Arthur Shahzade passed on January 24th, 2023 at the age of 96. He was predeceased by his father, Aram, his mother Rose, his brothers, John and Ed and his sister Janet. There is a scholarship created by The Fox Theatre via the Visalia Community Services Foundation in his honor, the Arthur Shahzade Legacy Scholarship. You can email maxlupercio@yahoo.com, or contact via mail @ 5127 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA 93291, for more information. 

Per his request, there will be no formal funeral held; however, his friends have teamed up with Mt. Whitney High School to host a Celebration of Life Memorial to be held at Mt. Whitney in the Spring of 2023. More information will be available via the Mt. Whitney Alumni Facebook Page & via the Visalia Community Services Council email contact, Max Lupercio, Director: maxlupercio@yahoo.com. 

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