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Former longtime Birmingham Coach Alan ‘Chick’ Epstein dies

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Alan ‘Chick’ Epstein, a former longtime Birmingham coach who guided the Patriots to a City Section title in girls’ golf and the 3-A championship game in football, died Saturday of causes related to heart disease, said Birmingham Athletic Director Rick Prizant. He was 71.

Epstein took Birmingham to the 3-A City title game in football in 1994 and the girls’ golf title in the first year it was held. He also coached the girls’ basketball team during part of his 37 years at the school. He ran Fairways Golf Camp, the first camp for golfers in the San Fernando Valley, for 25 years.

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Epstein was known for more than his coaching prowess.

‘He was the greatest guy,’ Prizant said. ‘He always lightened up your day, had a joke of the day for everybody. He was the most happy-go-lucky guy there ever was.’

In traditional Epstein fashion, he had requested that mourners wear golf attire or the colors of UCLA, his alma mater, to his funeral. It will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

--Ben Bolch

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