[ In Memoriam ] Richard Van Vorst
Spring 2007
| Richard
Van Vorst MA ‘56, of San Marino, Calif., an active community and alumni
leader, died Sept. 21 from Parkinson’s disease. He was 79. Van Vorst, recipient of the 1981 USC Alumni Service Award, served on the USC Board of Trustees from 1987 until his retirement in 1993. He was president of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors from 1988 to 1989 and was an original member of the Kenneth Norris Jr. Comprehensive Cancer Center Board of Directors, which began in 1982. He was past president of Cardinal and Gold as well as a member of Skull and Dagger, Friends of the Library, the USC Commerce Associates National Board of Directors, the Downtown Trojan Club and chairman of the SCions scholarship program. A native of Los Angeles, he was raised in San Marino and attended Harvard Military School before serving in the army in World War II. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the then-Claremont Men's College and his master’s degree in economics from USC. Van Vorst spent nearly 40 years as an executive in a variety of fields, first working 20 years as vice president and general manager of the C.B. Van Vorst Company, his family's mattress and furniture business. He then went on to serve as president and CEO of Modern Plastics Company, a custom thermo-plastic injection molding firm, until his retirement in 1980. From 1969 until his death, he also was a principal partner in C&R Enterprises and Van Vorst Properties. He held leadership roles in many community organizations, including the Westridge School for Girls, Credit Managers Association, Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic, California Casualty, Blue Cross of California, United Way, Thomas Jefferson Reserch Center and All Saints Church. He and his wife, Connie, traveled the world with fellow Young Presidents Organization and World Business Council members. An avid fisherman, duck and big game hunter, he was a member of Ducks Unlimited and Safari Club International. He is survived by his wife, daughters Louise, Kristen and Marianne, sons-in-law Daniel and Robb and eight grandchildren. The Richard Van Vorst Parkinson Research Fund at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has been established in his memory. |
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