John Henry Clippinger; Avid USC Sports Booster

John Henry Clippinger III of Westlake, a fanatical booster of sports at USC, especially football, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 48.

“He loved USC sports; it was his passion, it was his life,” said Brian Luft, assistant director of athletic development at the university. “When he found out he had cancer--it was getting worse and worse--he had already ordered his [football] season tickets for this year.”

Clippinger was born Dec. 28, 1948.

He was president of Winner-Clippinger & Associates, a Los Angeles advertising firm.

Clippinger was not an alumnus of USC, but the school got in his blood, Luft said.

Clippinger was a longtime member of such athletic booster clubs as Cardinal and Gold and chairman of the Monday Morning Quarterback program.

“He was not your million-dollar guy, but John would do anything for you,” Luft said, adding that Clippinger happily printed invitations and did other jobs gratis for the school. “He kept 100 to 120 of our best donors happy. . . . He was one of those guys who fell in love with USC and supported it with everything that he did.”

Clippinger customarily traveled to home games in his recreational vehicle with family and friends, and such was his reputation that when he missed the first game of last season because of his illness, no one parked in his regular parking spot, Luft said.

Survivors include his wife, Susan; stepsons, Cade and Tracy; mother, Betsy; stepfather Elmer Stellmacher; and brother, Bill.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Valley Oaks Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, USC Athletics Department or USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Thousand Oaks.