Advertisement

OBITUARIES / PASSINGS / Thomas P. Nickell Jr.

Share
TIMES STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Thomas P. Nickell Jr., 88, a former vice president at USC who directed fundraising, public affairs and press relations at the university for more than three decades, died May 25 in San Diego, the university announced.

During his tenure and under his direction, alumni volunteers and friends of the university garnered more than $500 million in private support for USC. He was also a driving force in establishing in 1959 the university’s premier academic support group, the USC Associates.

A native of Richmond, Ind., Nickell spent two years at Butler University in Indiana before enlisting in the Army Air Forces during World War II. After the war, he continued his education at USC and earned his bachelor of science in marketing and advertising.

Advertisement

He returned to his alma mater in 1950 to direct the university’s annual giving program. He was named director of fundraising and development in 1957, director of university planning in 1960 and vice president for university planning in 1961.

He left USC in 1981 to operate the Nickell Co., a development consulting firm.

Advertisement