John D. Nicks Jr.; Pepperdine University Professor

Pepperdine University professor John D. Nicks Jr. of Westlake Village died Saturday at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks. He was 58.

Nicks was born Feb. 4, 1941, in Albuquerque. He attended grade school and high school there before enrolling at Abilene Christian University in Texas. He graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in religion.

Nicks met his future wife at the university, and the couple married on June 2, 1961.

Nicks moved from Texas to Corvallis, Ore., where he was a minister at a branch of the Church of Christ. While there, he earned a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Oregon in Eugene.

In 1972, Nicks moved to Agoura and became a professor of sociology at Pepperdine University. At the time of his death, he was a professor of quantitative analysis at the university’s Graziadio School of Business. In 1990, he moved with his family to Westlake.

Other positions Nicks held at the school were dean of the business school, vice president of academic affairs and vice president of development. Nicks was also an author and a consultant.

While at Pepperdine, Nicks earned a master’s degree in business administration.

“He loved people and loved watching people learn. He was a great teacher. He just had a real compassion and really cared what his students got out their education,” said Nicks’ son, David.

Nicks and his wife, Carolyn, toured Russia, Africa and much of Europe. He also enjoyed taking cruises, playing golf and watching old movies. He was the leader of a Cub Scout pack.

“He was just one of those people who touched people’s lives,” David Nicks said.

Nicks was a member of a branch of the Church of Christ in Malibu. He was also a member of several organizations and affiliations, including the Academy of International Business and the United States Assn. for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Nicks was preceded in death by a sister.

He is survived by his wife; three sons, David of Vancouver, Canada, Steven of San Francisco and Michael of Westlake Village; two sisters, Elizabeth Valdez of Rio Rancho outside Albuquerque and Betty Jane Holloway of Lompoc.

A service will be held Thursday at Pepperdine University followed by burial at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Mortuary’s cemetery in Westlake Village. The mortuary is handling the arrangements.