Gary E. Biszantz ’56 P’08, a CMC Trustee whose athleticism and philanthropy made a significant mark on the College and CMS Athletics, died on March 14, 2026, at age 91.

A lifelong, passionate athlete who earned numerous athletic distinctions in golf and basketball at CMC, Biszantz’s philanthropy enhanced athletic programs and facilities at the College, most notably by establishing the Biszantz Family Tennis Center, considered one of the finest in collegiate tennis. The Center opened in 2009, the year after his daughter, Samantha—one of six in the Biszantz family—graduated from CMC in the Class of 2008.

As a CMC student, Biszantz excelled in golf and basketball, earning distinctions and serving as captain of the CMS teams in both sports. In 1955, he finished second at the SCIAC Golf Championships and, in 1956, led the golf team to the league championship. Equally exceptional in basketball, he was the first CMC athlete to earn First-Team All SCIAC in 1956, taking home the Athlete of the Year distinction that same year.

Ever loyal to the development of student-athletes, Biszantz continued to engage with the CMS golf teams as a mentor and fan. He was also an enthusiastic competitor out on the greens for years beyond his graduation. In 2003, he was inducted into the CMS Hall of Fame in recognition of his golf and basketball accomplishments.

“Gary was not only a star varsity athlete, he was also the star of Boswell Hall’s intramural teams,” said Jack Stark ’57 GP’11, CMC President Emeritus, who was a CMC student at the same time as Biszantz. “He always aimed for the winner’s circle. He carried that same dramatic drive into the business world, on to the golf course, and at his wonderful horse farm, too. When he built the Biszantz tennis facility, at CMC, he wanted it to also be in that winner’s circle.”

The host site of numerous NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Team and Individual Championships, the Biszantz Family Tennis Center has fueled the excellence of the CMS tennis programs who call it home, which was “Biszantz’s plan all along.”

The state-of-the-art complex earned instant acclaim, heralded as the 2009 Outdoor Tennis Facility of the Year by the American Sports Builders Association and winner of one of the United States Tennis Association’s prominent facility awards, among other honors. As noted in a CMC 75th Anniversary story about the opening of the center, it was also “the envy of most Division III programs around the country” with its “12 Plexipave courts complete with professional standard lighting, a centrally located observation deck overlooking all courts, a team room, medical services area, and two electronic scoreboards displaying results from each of the twelve courts.”

“Gary was a true visionary for Claremont McKenna and CMS Tennis, creating a destination for the very best of collegiate tennis, as well as a hub for recreational, national, and international players,” said Paul Settles P’28, CMS Head Men’s Tennis Coach. “His innovation ushered in the modern era of CMS Tennis, leaving a legacy of excellence for future generations.”

Born and raised in nearby Glendora, Calif., Biszantz earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at CMC in 1956 and joined the Board of Trustees in 2001, serving on numerous committees over his tenure, including College Advancement, Campaign, Investment, Building and Grounds, and Student Affairs. Biszantz also established two CMC scholarships (in 1977 and 1999): The Gary E. Biszantz Scholarship Fund in Memory of Richard L. Woods ’56, his childhood friend and Boswell Hall roommate, and The Orme W. Phelps Scholarship, in honor of the CMC Professor Emeritus of Economics and former Dean of the Faculty. In 2007, Biszantz was honored by the Board as a Life Trustee for his distinguished service and invaluable contributions.

“Gary’s magnetic personality would command the room. Whether urging his fellow Trustees, speaking at the Athenaeum, or championing CMS Athletics, he was a generous alumnus and friend of his alma mater—and the Biszantz Family Tennis Center is his greatest legacy,” said Pamela Gann, CMC President Emerita. “Above all, he was an avid believer and supporter of CMC’s commitment to leadership and producing graduates who were ready to be in the arena of life.”

“Gary was the most dedicated champion of CMC, and by example, set the highest standard for us all,” added CMC President Hiram Chodosh. “We will miss him dearly and recommit ourselves to honor his leading legacy every day.”

Beyond CMC, Biszantz’s drive for golf—and surely his golf drive—shaped a significant and lucrative chapter of his career. Having joined his father’s automobile dealership immediately after college, which Biszantz helped build into a thriving enterprise, his next professional venture was co-founding Cobra Golf, a leading golf club and golf equipment manufacturer. The career move earned him the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Following the enormously successful sale of Cobra Golf, Biszantz pursued his passion for Thoroughbred horseracing, spending over 70 years as an owner and breeder, winning hundreds of races around the world, serving on the boards of numerous organizations, and becoming an influential figure in the sport.

In Lexington, Ky., he and his wife, Betty, developed Cobra Farm, a premier Thoroughbred breeding and racing facility. Together, they hosted many CMC events during the farm’s 30-plus years of operation. Biszantz also helped establish Tranquility Farm: The Harry A. Biszantz Memorial Center for Thoroughbred Retirement, named after his father and created to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide lifelong care for retired racehorses.

“Many have been remembering my dad as ‘a force of nature’ and ‘larger than life,’ and he truly was both of those things. But to me, he was simply my biggest cheerleader, always in my corner, as he would say,” said his daughter, Samantha Biszantz Stober ’08. “One of the things that made him so special was that he gave that same unwavering support to the people and causes he believed in. Claremont McKenna was one of them. He was deeply proud of his time there, of helping build the tennis center, of being a Trustee, and he carried those memories with him, sharing them often, throughout his whole life.”

Biszantz is survived by his wife of 42 years, Betty Biszantz; daughters, Allison Biszantz (Mike), Jo Ann Menary (Dave), Shannon Biszantz (Jim), Suzanne Biszantz Bennett (Scott), Nikelle Biszantz Vercollone (Nick), and Samantha Biszantz Stober ’08 (Matt); and nine grandchildren.

Read more about Gary Biszantz’s life at legacy.com.