“Mr. Tufts” Passes Away
Prominent Tufts alum and Medford resident John Baronian passed away on April 5.
Baronian, 87, was a standout athlete and his service to the university earned him the nickname “Mr. Tufts,” according to a feature about him in Tufts E-News.
Baronian is a 1950 graduate of Tufts, earning a degree in economics with help from the GI Bill in 1946.
“If there were a more loyal, passionate, and committed Tufts alumnus than John Baronian, I have yet to meet him. There might be 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., but in John’s mind, there was only one,” Tufts President Lawrence Bacow told the Tufts E-News.
Baronian was a star football player and an award is given in his name to the best offensive and defensive lineman each year. Tufts’ field house is also named in his honor.
Baronian is also known for his collection of over 4,000 elephants, the school’s mascot. He donated the collection to Tufts in 2003.
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