Waxman, quiet, but effective
By Jim Joanos
Florida State University’s Athletic Department has developed unbelievably since its inception in 1947 when the institution changed from a well-respected women’s college into a coeducational university. Over the last half century FSU athletics has experienced a transition from middle class to among the elite programs in the nation. During that time virtually every athletic facility on campus was either built or underwent major renovations. There are lots of folks who were responsible for this growth and improvement. Among the most important ones was Bernie Waxman, a quiet, nearly always smiling athletics administrator with a great sense of humor. This article is about his service to FSU.
After 45 years working for FSU, Waxman retired in 2019. You cannot in honesty, say that he was an “unsung hero.” From 1991 to 2019, he, along with the athletics director, played a major role in the growth and development of the athletic facilities. What made Bernie Waxman different from most folks with similar responsibilities was that he did not make “splashes” or seek the limelight. He did what he did quietly, out of the spotlight, very efficiently and without fanfare, praising others and taking very little credit for his own involvement.
During his tenure at FSU, the facilities were transformed from midlevel to one of the nations most outstanding. He represented the athletics department in the construction of the current Moore Athletic Center, Smith/Stiles Soccer/Softball Complex, Indoor Football Practice Facility, Beach Volleyball Complex, McIntosh Track Building, Morcom Aquatics Complex, Indoor Tennis Facility, Scott Spiecher Tennis Facility, and Basketball Practice Facility. He also oversaw the department’s redesign and renovation (by the Nicklaus Design Group) of the Don Veller Golf Club and Seminole Legacy Golf Course, and major renovations to Howser Stadium, Doak Campbell Stadium, Mike Long Track, and parts of Tully Gym. Waxman was responsible for facilities, event management, and operations for FSU athletics. He oversaw the staff responsible for the preparation of each facility for home event pre-competition, competition, and post-competition activities. He also had administrative oversight of Track and Field (Men and Women, 2007-2019), Cross Country (Men and Women, 2007-2019), Golf (Men and Women, 2007-2019), and Softball (2007-2014). He also served as a member of the advance team when FSU participated in bowl games.
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Bernie Waxman |
Bernie Waxman was born in the Bronx, a borough of New York City. His family moved to Miami when he was a child and later to Merritt Island where he was a three-sport athlete (football, baseball, and track) at Merritt Island High School. His senior year, he was the president of the student body. In 1967, he applied and was accepted as an FSU Freshman. In the spring of his FSU sophomore year, one of his classes was track and field, taught by the head track coach, Mike Long. At the coach’s invitation he joined the track team. For the next three years, he lettered and racked up points for FSU, which was a pretty good track team at the time. While the quarter-mile distance was his best event, he also ran on the mile relay, the 440 relay, and competed in the long jump and triple-jump. He was captain of the team his senior year. One of his special accomplishments was competing as a member of the USA Maccabee Team, where he won the gold medal in the long jump in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Gabrielle, Lisa and Bernie |
Bernie got his bachelor’s degree in 1971 and master’s degree in 1973, both at FSU. In 1974, he was hired as FSU’s Assistant Intramural Director, where is oversaw the sport and recreation needs of the general student body. He was soon promoted to Director a few years into his 17-year tenure. While working in the Intramural department, Bernie had the opportunity to head up the NCAA stat crews for football and men’s and women’s basketball, which he continued to oversee until 1991 when he joined the athletics department.
One of the bright spots in my memories was in 1987 when I officiated the marriage of Bernie and Lisa Kinch, a friend of our children. Lisa was a distance runner on the FSU women’s track and cross-country teams. Both Lisa and Bernie had careers at FSU, with Lisa serving on the faculty from 1984-2019. This special couple have one adult daughter, Gabrielle, an FSU alum and family therapist in Jacksonville.
Since his retirement from FSU, Bernie, has continued being active in several community programs and activities. Among them are the Tallahassee Sports Council, FSU Association of Retired Faculty, and the Tallahassee Rotary Club.
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About the author:
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Jim Joanos |
Memories of Garnet and Gold
Jim Joanos and his wife Betty Lou have deep roots at Florida State University. Avid sports fans, they have literally seen, and done, it all. Fortunately for us, Jim loves telling first-hand accounts dating back to FSU’s first football game, a 1947 clash with the Stetson Hatters on Centennial Field, where Cascades Park is today.
The Osceola will run a series of these colorful stories written by the former Tallahassee lawyer and judge, which we feel our readers will find enlightening and/or nostalgic.
Jim and Betty Lou, who was Associate Director of the FSU Alumni Association (1991-2003), have been married 65 years and are each listed as one of FSU’s 100 Distinguished Graduates. The couple were enshrined in the FSU Hall of Fame in 2015 as Moore-Stone Award Recipients. Ironically, both Deans Moore and Stone were instrumental in the Joanoses career development.
“Both Jim and Betty Lou Joanos have been exemplary fans and supporters of Florida State University, both academically and athletically,” said Andy Miller, retired President and CEO of Seminole Boosters, Inc. “You can’t go to an athletic event of any kind that you don’t see both Jim and Betty Lou Joanos together. They love their university as much as they love each other.”