David Andrus, 63; USC Professor, Rights Activist

David J. Andrus, director of the Peace and Conflict Studies program at the USC School of International Relations and an international political activist known for participating in struggles for social justice, has died. He was 63.

Andrus died Tuesday at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena after a yearlong battle with lymphoma.

He began teaching at USC in 1994 after careers as a bank officer for Security Pacific National Bank, president of a subsidiary of Smith-Klein Beckman, and owner of a computer software and economic research company.

At USC, he also was faculty advisor for the peace-and-conflict scholar student group, and he taught courses in the areas of peace, justice and human rights, in political economics, and in research methods.

Andrus was a former board member for Witness for Peace, an active member of the Middle East Peace Education Committee of the American Friends Service Committee, and a founding member of the International Solidarity Movement, an organization designed to teach and promote nonviolent activism among participants of the Arab-Israeli conflict.His humanitarian work included academic and student delegations to El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba and the Palestinian territories.

In 1999, Andrus was part of a humanitarian assessment delegation to Iraq. In June 2003, he returned to Iraq as part of a fact-finding mission hosted by Christian Peacemaker Teams, an organization that provides “human-shielding” and intermediary services to populations suffering conflict. He shared his experiences regularly through the media, forums and public presentations.

In his teaching of international issues, “it was clear that Dave understood the bottom line -- helping people,” said Teresa Hudock, director of USC’s Center for Active Learning in International Studies.

Andrus was born in Sayre, Pa., and grew up in Waverly, N.Y. He served three years in the Air Force before moving to South Pasadena in 1962. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Cal State Los Angeles in 1969, he received his master’s degree and PhD in politics and international relations from USC.

Andrus is survived by his wife of 46 years, Haila Hart Andrus; five children, Colleen Dominguez, Beth Andrus, Michele Auon, Gabrielle Powell and David Andrus; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena.