USC School of Social Work Board of Councilor member Richard (Dick) Thor died on Dec. 18, 2011 at his home in Redondo Beach, Calif., after a battle with cancer. He was 80.

A 1958 graduate of the USC School of Social Work, Thor devoted his life to the service of others. While a reservist in the United States Air Force during his collegiate years at the University of Washington, Thor was called to active duty in 1951 and served his country for three years in France with an engineering squadron. Upon returning to civilian life, he took a part-time job as a house parent at a children’s counseling center in 1954 while finishing his economics degree. After graduation, he became a stock broker, soon realizing the profession was not for him, and moved to Southern California for graduate school at USC in 1956. He met his wife Ann while completing his Master of Social Work and married the love of his life in 1957.

Their three boys – Danny, Mike and Tom – soon followed, along with a satisfying social work career, which included jobs as a parole officer at the California Youth Authority and assistant dean in the USC School of Social Work. When his father became ill, leaving the fate of his Volkswagen dealership in jeopardy, the younger Thor stepped in to save the family business. Under his leadership, the business thrived, and he went on to become president of the Volkswagen Dealer Association. After 22 years, Thor sold the franchise and returned to social work, completing 12 years at the Los Angeles Free Clinic, consulting for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing, and teaching part-time at both UCLA and California State University, Long Beach. He also sat on the board of numerous charitable foundations, including Goodwill Industries, Lamp Community, SRO Housing and the Salvation Army.

For the past decade, Thor contributed to the USC School of Social Work as a member of the Board of Councilors and the California Social Welfare Archives, the latter of which also included a stint as president from 2004-2006. He also served on the USC Alumni Association’s Board of Governors and the California Social Work Hall of Distinction Committee. Thor and his wife have been generous donors to the USC School of Social Work. In 2004, they endowed the Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Development to create a lasting legacy of their friendship and support of the school. First held by the late Madeleine Stoner, the professorship now belongs to Ron Avi Astor.

"Dick was a kind, patient, empathetic man who loved his family, his country, his community, his university, and his god," Associate Dean Marlene Wagner said. "He was a good man, and I will miss him."

Thor is survived by his wife; grandchildren, Tracy and Tom; and great-grandchildren, Mikey and Jeannine. A memorial will be held on Jan. 14, 2012 at St. Peters by the Sea Presbyterian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. The service begins at 1:30 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to TrinityCare Hospice at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital.