U.S. Olympic weightlifting team competitor, trainer, manager and coach 1936-1984
World weightlifting champion 1937 & 1947. National weightlifting champion 1936-1947. Member U.S. Olympic committee and International Weightlifting Federation.
Chairman of the board York Barbell Company. Trustee of BOB HOFFMAN Foundation. Member of York County Sports Hall of Fame. Member of Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Member of U.S. Weightlifting Hall of Fame.
Member York Rotary Club. Zeredetha Lodge 451 F. & A.M. Harrisburg Consistory. Zembo Temple. York County Shriner Club. York Forest #30. Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters York College of Pennsylvania.
Former world weightlifting champion and three-time Olympian John B. Terpak Sr. died of natural causes at his Springettsbury Township home Tuesday.
At his death, the 80-year-old chairman and chief executive officer of York Barbell Co. Inc. had spent some 60 years participating in, officiating and promoting weightlifting.Friends and family described him as a humble, soft-spoken man who traveled the world pursuing a sport that has become widely popular since his lifting days in the early 1930s. Between 1935 and 1948, Terpak competed internationally, earning two world and 11 national weightlifting championships. "He was an outstanding performer, a man of great composure," said John Terlazzo, a competitor and longtime friend of Terpak. "He'll be missed in weightlifting." Terlazzo, a New York native who moved to York in 1960, met Terpak in 1934 at a national weightlifting championship in Brooklyn. "It was our first senior championship," Terlazzo recalled. Terpak was born July 4, 1912, in Mayfield, a small town near Scranton. He played football and ran track in high school. He had worked briefly in the coal mines when weightlifting caught his interest. In 1935, he entered a weightlifting contest in Philadelphia, where he met Bob Hoffman, the founder of York Barbell. Terpak was among the company's first employees, eventually becoming Hoffman's right-hand man. Hoffman encouraged bodybuilding in his employees. They spent coffee breaks lifting weights. Terpak and other employees were walking promotions for Hoffman, who paid their expense at competitions. His first Olympic experience was in Berlin in 1936. Terpak, weighing 148 pounds, placed fifth in his class. In Paris in 1937, he won the world weightlifting championship in the 165-pound class. He repeated that success in Philadelphia in 1947.
Terpak made the U.S. team for the 1940 Olympic games, but they were canceled because of World War II. He again made the team for the 1948 Games in London, placing fourth in his class. That was his last competition. Between 1952 and 1964, he served as assistant coach, trainer and team manager of the Olympic team. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Terpak replaced Hoffman as coach of the U.S. team. Four years later in Munich, he again served as coach. Altogether, Terpak was part of nine Olympic teams, which the U.S. Weightlifting Federation believes is a record for an American. Until 1988, Terpak had attended every Olympics since 1936. In 1980, when the United States refused to attend the Moscow Games, Terpak attended the weightlifting congress there, said friend and associate Richard Smith of Hanover.
In 1986, Terpak returned to Moscow, where he was lead referee in the 220-pound class at the Goodwill Games. "Until he passed away, he was going all over the world," Terlazzo said. Smith said he and Terpak had been planning a trip to Germany. "I don't think John was sick a day in his life," Smith said Tuesday. "I was hoping to get down and see him today."
News of Terpak's death was considered sudden by his friends. "I couldn't believe what I heard," said Sandy Kranich, a friend who worked with Terpak on York Sports Night. "I loved him like a brother. I didn't know anyone who didn't like him." As a businessman, Terpak was as dedicated to the company as he was to weightlifting. "He was a wonderful person and he was a very big part of York Barbell's success," said president Victor J. Standish.Terpak leaves his wife, Mildred; a son, John Jr.; a daughter, Joan; and four grandchildren. John Terpak Jr. described his father as a "big hearted" individual whose family was spread over the globe. "There's a lot of people all over the world who are going to miss him."
World weightlifting champion 1937 & 1947. National weightlifting champion 1936-1947. Member U.S. Olympic committee and International Weightlifting Federation.
Chairman of the board York Barbell Company. Trustee of BOB HOFFMAN Foundation. Member of York County Sports Hall of Fame. Member of Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Member of U.S. Weightlifting Hall of Fame.
Member York Rotary Club. Zeredetha Lodge 451 F. & A.M. Harrisburg Consistory. Zembo Temple. York County Shriner Club. York Forest #30. Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters York College of Pennsylvania.
Former world weightlifting champion and three-time Olympian John B. Terpak Sr. died of natural causes at his Springettsbury Township home Tuesday.
At his death, the 80-year-old chairman and chief executive officer of York Barbell Co. Inc. had spent some 60 years participating in, officiating and promoting weightlifting.Friends and family described him as a humble, soft-spoken man who traveled the world pursuing a sport that has become widely popular since his lifting days in the early 1930s. Between 1935 and 1948, Terpak competed internationally, earning two world and 11 national weightlifting championships. "He was an outstanding performer, a man of great composure," said John Terlazzo, a competitor and longtime friend of Terpak. "He'll be missed in weightlifting." Terlazzo, a New York native who moved to York in 1960, met Terpak in 1934 at a national weightlifting championship in Brooklyn. "It was our first senior championship," Terlazzo recalled. Terpak was born July 4, 1912, in Mayfield, a small town near Scranton. He played football and ran track in high school. He had worked briefly in the coal mines when weightlifting caught his interest. In 1935, he entered a weightlifting contest in Philadelphia, where he met Bob Hoffman, the founder of York Barbell. Terpak was among the company's first employees, eventually becoming Hoffman's right-hand man. Hoffman encouraged bodybuilding in his employees. They spent coffee breaks lifting weights. Terpak and other employees were walking promotions for Hoffman, who paid their expense at competitions. His first Olympic experience was in Berlin in 1936. Terpak, weighing 148 pounds, placed fifth in his class. In Paris in 1937, he won the world weightlifting championship in the 165-pound class. He repeated that success in Philadelphia in 1947.
Terpak made the U.S. team for the 1940 Olympic games, but they were canceled because of World War II. He again made the team for the 1948 Games in London, placing fourth in his class. That was his last competition. Between 1952 and 1964, he served as assistant coach, trainer and team manager of the Olympic team. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Terpak replaced Hoffman as coach of the U.S. team. Four years later in Munich, he again served as coach. Altogether, Terpak was part of nine Olympic teams, which the U.S. Weightlifting Federation believes is a record for an American. Until 1988, Terpak had attended every Olympics since 1936. In 1980, when the United States refused to attend the Moscow Games, Terpak attended the weightlifting congress there, said friend and associate Richard Smith of Hanover.
In 1986, Terpak returned to Moscow, where he was lead referee in the 220-pound class at the Goodwill Games. "Until he passed away, he was going all over the world," Terlazzo said. Smith said he and Terpak had been planning a trip to Germany. "I don't think John was sick a day in his life," Smith said Tuesday. "I was hoping to get down and see him today."
News of Terpak's death was considered sudden by his friends. "I couldn't believe what I heard," said Sandy Kranich, a friend who worked with Terpak on York Sports Night. "I loved him like a brother. I didn't know anyone who didn't like him." As a businessman, Terpak was as dedicated to the company as he was to weightlifting. "He was a wonderful person and he was a very big part of York Barbell's success," said president Victor J. Standish.Terpak leaves his wife, Mildred; a son, John Jr.; a daughter, Joan; and four grandchildren. John Terpak Jr. described his father as a "big hearted" individual whose family was spread over the globe. "There's a lot of people all over the world who are going to miss him."
U.S. Olympic weightlifting team competitor, trainer, manager and coach 1936-1984
World weightlifting champion 1937 & 1947. National weightlifting champion 1936-1947. Member U.S. Olympic committee and International Weightlifting Federation.
Chairman of the board York Barbell Company. Trustee of BOB HOFFMAN Foundation. Member of York County Sports Hall of Fame. Member of Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Member of U.S. Weightlifting Hall of Fame.
Member York Rotary Club. Zeredetha Lodge 451 F. & A.M. Harrisburg Consistory. Zembo Temple. York County Shriner Club. York Forest #30. Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters York College of Pennsylvania.
Former world weightlifting champion and three-time Olympian John B. Terpak Sr. died of natural causes at his Springettsbury Township home Tuesday.
At his death, the 80-year-old chairman and chief executive officer of York Barbell Co. Inc. had spent some 60 years participating in, officiating and promoting weightlifting.Friends and family described him as a humble, soft-spoken man who traveled the world pursuing a sport that has become widely popular since his lifting days in the early 1930s. Between 1935 and 1948, Terpak competed internationally, earning two world and 11 national weightlifting championships. "He was an outstanding performer, a man of great composure," said John Terlazzo, a competitor and longtime friend of Terpak. "He'll be missed in weightlifting." Terlazzo, a New York native who moved to York in 1960, met Terpak in 1934 at a national weightlifting championship in Brooklyn. "It was our first senior championship," Terlazzo recalled. Terpak was born July 4, 1912, in Mayfield, a small town near Scranton. He played football and ran track in high school. He had worked briefly in the coal mines when weightlifting caught his interest. In 1935, he entered a weightlifting contest in Philadelphia, where he met Bob Hoffman, the founder of York Barbell. Terpak was among the company's first employees, eventually becoming Hoffman's right-hand man. Hoffman encouraged bodybuilding in his employees. They spent coffee breaks lifting weights. Terpak and other employees were walking promotions for Hoffman, who paid their expense at competitions. His first Olympic experience was in Berlin in 1936. Terpak, weighing 148 pounds, placed fifth in his class. In Paris in 1937, he won the world weightlifting championship in the 165-pound class. He repeated that success in Philadelphia in 1947.
Terpak made the U.S. team for the 1940 Olympic games, but they were canceled because of World War II. He again made the team for the 1948 Games in London, placing fourth in his class. That was his last competition. Between 1952 and 1964, he served as assistant coach, trainer and team manager of the Olympic team. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Terpak replaced Hoffman as coach of the U.S. team. Four years later in Munich, he again served as coach. Altogether, Terpak was part of nine Olympic teams, which the U.S. Weightlifting Federation believes is a record for an American. Until 1988, Terpak had attended every Olympics since 1936. In 1980, when the United States refused to attend the Moscow Games, Terpak attended the weightlifting congress there, said friend and associate Richard Smith of Hanover.
In 1986, Terpak returned to Moscow, where he was lead referee in the 220-pound class at the Goodwill Games. "Until he passed away, he was going all over the world," Terlazzo said. Smith said he and Terpak had been planning a trip to Germany. "I don't think John was sick a day in his life," Smith said Tuesday. "I was hoping to get down and see him today."
News of Terpak's death was considered sudden by his friends. "I couldn't believe what I heard," said Sandy Kranich, a friend who worked with Terpak on York Sports Night. "I loved him like a brother. I didn't know anyone who didn't like him." As a businessman, Terpak was as dedicated to the company as he was to weightlifting. "He was a wonderful person and he was a very big part of York Barbell's success," said president Victor J. Standish.Terpak leaves his wife, Mildred; a son, John Jr.; a daughter, Joan; and four grandchildren. John Terpak Jr. described his father as a "big hearted" individual whose family was spread over the globe. "There's a lot of people all over the world who are going to miss him."
World weightlifting champion 1937 & 1947. National weightlifting champion 1936-1947. Member U.S. Olympic committee and International Weightlifting Federation.
Chairman of the board York Barbell Company. Trustee of BOB HOFFMAN Foundation. Member of York County Sports Hall of Fame. Member of Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Member of U.S. Weightlifting Hall of Fame.
Member York Rotary Club. Zeredetha Lodge 451 F. & A.M. Harrisburg Consistory. Zembo Temple. York County Shriner Club. York Forest #30. Tall Cedars of Lebanon. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters York College of Pennsylvania.
Former world weightlifting champion and three-time Olympian John B. Terpak Sr. died of natural causes at his Springettsbury Township home Tuesday.
At his death, the 80-year-old chairman and chief executive officer of York Barbell Co. Inc. had spent some 60 years participating in, officiating and promoting weightlifting.Friends and family described him as a humble, soft-spoken man who traveled the world pursuing a sport that has become widely popular since his lifting days in the early 1930s. Between 1935 and 1948, Terpak competed internationally, earning two world and 11 national weightlifting championships. "He was an outstanding performer, a man of great composure," said John Terlazzo, a competitor and longtime friend of Terpak. "He'll be missed in weightlifting." Terlazzo, a New York native who moved to York in 1960, met Terpak in 1934 at a national weightlifting championship in Brooklyn. "It was our first senior championship," Terlazzo recalled. Terpak was born July 4, 1912, in Mayfield, a small town near Scranton. He played football and ran track in high school. He had worked briefly in the coal mines when weightlifting caught his interest. In 1935, he entered a weightlifting contest in Philadelphia, where he met Bob Hoffman, the founder of York Barbell. Terpak was among the company's first employees, eventually becoming Hoffman's right-hand man. Hoffman encouraged bodybuilding in his employees. They spent coffee breaks lifting weights. Terpak and other employees were walking promotions for Hoffman, who paid their expense at competitions. His first Olympic experience was in Berlin in 1936. Terpak, weighing 148 pounds, placed fifth in his class. In Paris in 1937, he won the world weightlifting championship in the 165-pound class. He repeated that success in Philadelphia in 1947.
Terpak made the U.S. team for the 1940 Olympic games, but they were canceled because of World War II. He again made the team for the 1948 Games in London, placing fourth in his class. That was his last competition. Between 1952 and 1964, he served as assistant coach, trainer and team manager of the Olympic team. At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Terpak replaced Hoffman as coach of the U.S. team. Four years later in Munich, he again served as coach. Altogether, Terpak was part of nine Olympic teams, which the U.S. Weightlifting Federation believes is a record for an American. Until 1988, Terpak had attended every Olympics since 1936. In 1980, when the United States refused to attend the Moscow Games, Terpak attended the weightlifting congress there, said friend and associate Richard Smith of Hanover.
In 1986, Terpak returned to Moscow, where he was lead referee in the 220-pound class at the Goodwill Games. "Until he passed away, he was going all over the world," Terlazzo said. Smith said he and Terpak had been planning a trip to Germany. "I don't think John was sick a day in his life," Smith said Tuesday. "I was hoping to get down and see him today."
News of Terpak's death was considered sudden by his friends. "I couldn't believe what I heard," said Sandy Kranich, a friend who worked with Terpak on York Sports Night. "I loved him like a brother. I didn't know anyone who didn't like him." As a businessman, Terpak was as dedicated to the company as he was to weightlifting. "He was a wonderful person and he was a very big part of York Barbell's success," said president Victor J. Standish.Terpak leaves his wife, Mildred; a son, John Jr.; a daughter, Joan; and four grandchildren. John Terpak Jr. described his father as a "big hearted" individual whose family was spread over the globe. "There's a lot of people all over the world who are going to miss him."
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