Madeleine Stoner, an integral part of the USC School of Social Work for nearly 30 years and a tireless advocate for the homeless, died at home July 13. She was 70.

Stoner joined the USC School of Social Work in 1980 as assistant dean and in 1986 began teaching and researching full time.

"Madeleine Stoner was a remarkable faculty member, who gave leadership across the campus and in the community," said Marilyn Flynn, dean of the USC School of Social Work. "She unfailingly understood the need for social justice and effective social policies in addressing urban homelessness, communicated this message gracefully across all reaches of society, and deeply influenced the development of our school. Her absence from our midst will be a profound loss."

Homelessness was one of Stoner's areas of expertise and she shared her knowledge with community agencies and legislative bodies. On a recent sabbatical, Stoner served as director of social services at the Single Room Occupancy Housing Corp. in Los Angeles. In 2004, Stoner was installed as the Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Development.

Her first book, Inventing a Non-Homeless Future: A Policy Agenda for Preventing Homelessness, was nominated for the Park Award of the American Sociological Association. Stoner's second book, The Civil Rights of Homeless People analyzed litigation on behalf of homeless people.

She shared this passion to house the homeless with her husband of five years, Ralph Fertig, a clinical associate professor of social work at USC.

"Madeleine pointed the way to end homelessness through improved public policies and community commitment," Fertig said.

Stoner did not just study the issues but worked to spread best practices to government and community groups as a consultant to a Los Angeles city councilman, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Children's Services and United Friends of the Children. She also was a member of the Santa Monica's Commission on the Status of Women and the Santa Monica Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness.

Stoner's current research focused on finding better ways to provide healthcare for the indigent and chronically ill and she was conducting a five-year evaluation of the Bridges to Independence Program that provides transitional living for emancipated foster youth.

She was the current faculty chair of the USC Urban Initiative and a member of the Southern California Inter-university Consortium on Homelessness and Poverty. She was co-chair of the think tank of the Institute for the Study of Women and Men in Society and served as a guest editor of a special issue of the American Behavioral Scientist that featured the think tank. She also served a president of the board of directors of Step Up on Second Street and the Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services Agency.

Prior to joining USC in 1980, Stoner worked in London as deputy director of the Local Organizations Divisions of the National Council for Voluntary Organizations and as a research assistant to the Parliamentary Private Secretary for Health in the British House of Commons.

In addition to her husband, Madeleine's survivors include her son, Alan Cushman, and his partner, Edgardo Gazcon; her daughter, Katie, her husband, Brian Jacobs, and their sons, Noah and Bryce; her stepson Tad Stoner, his wife, Iris, and children Erin, Ben and Adam; her stepson, Jon Stoner, his wife Julie, and their sons, William and Sam; her brother, Stanley Ruskin, his wife, Judy, their son, Ryan, and his partner, Michael Andrews; and their daughter, Remy, her husband, Allen Freeman and their sons, Teddy and Matthew.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, at Hillside Cemetery, 6001 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles, with a reception to follow at Ralph Fertig's home from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

In keeping with Stoner's wishes, the family asks that in lieu of flowers or other remembrances, contributions be made to the newly established Madeleine Stoner Scholarship Fund in the USC School of Social Work. Please contact Carmen Frierson at (213) 740-8311.