ATHLETIC ANALYST BLES RETIRES
34-year veteran of SSU P.E. department helped oversee distribution of funds
Friday will be a unique day for Marlene Bles.
After working in various capacities at Sonoma State since 1969, Bles is retiring.
"It's time," said Bles, 59. "I won't miss all the work but I will sure miss the people."
Bles started in the purchasing department and moved to the athletic department during the 1972-73 school year.
She worked in the P.E. department until 1980 when Ralph Barkey came in as athletic director and the school sports program started to grow, moving to the administrative end.
Bles is officially an athletic analyst for the athletic department, overseeing distribution of funds, but she's really been the go-to person for a long time.
"Marlene's contribution to the program's growth and success have been invaluable," said A.D. Bill Fusco. "She has been the 'hub' of our department, handling so many responsibilities and interacting with coaches and staff members.
"The advice and direction she provided me as director of athletics was always sound and consistent ... I can't imagine what it will be like without her at the desk across the hall."
Bles and husband, John, have bought an 850-acre ranch 40 miles from Klamath Falls , Ore. , although they will rent out their house near Tomales.
"We're going to clean the ( Oregon ) place up and run cattle," said Bles, who has a son and one grand-daughter.
Her replacement will be Nancy Crosat, an 11-year employee who most recently worked in the kinesiology department.
"I enjoy all the coaches and I enjoyed my time in the kinesiology department but it's time for a change," said Crosat. "You can be an administrative secretary for just so long."
Going from the academic side to student-affairs should be a refreshing change.
"I haven't had a chance to really break myself in here," said Crosat, whose first day at her new job was Monday.
"Nancy and I are good friends," said Bles. "I'll stop in from time to time and be available for her, if she needs it."
Bles couldn't single out a highlight, although she said when a 1994 referendum passed, providing more athletic funding, "that was so nice."
She fondly recalls the periodic successes of the football program, which ended in 1996.
That would include the 1991 season when the then-Cossacks upset perennial power UC Davis, 23-12, ending a string of 20 consecutive NCAC titles with a victory in front of nearly 4,000 fans at SSU, the largest crowd to witness a sports event at the Rohnert Park campus.
Bles would attend as many athletic events as she could, and remembers "those great crowds" when SSU won a national men's soccer title in 2002.
She can't single out a favorite coach, although John Goelz (baseball), Marcus Ziemer (men's soccer) and Pat Fuscaldo (men's basketball) are high on her list.
"All of the coaches are dear to me," she said. "Iwouldn't want to slight any of them."
Bles calls her departure "bittersweet ... it has become so much more than just a job."
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