(WSVN) - Rick Case, a car salesman and philanthropist known for his dealerships and charitable work throughout South Florida, has died following a battle with an aggressive form of cancer, according to a family spokesperson. He was 77.
Case, the CEO and founder of Rick Case Automotive Group, died on Monday surrounded by his family.
Case was a giant in South Florida whose dealership name can be seen on vehicles near and far.
He and his family also gave back to the community in many ways, from helping families with finding housing to giving gifts to children on Christmas.
Case’s story started in Ohio. His journey began in the front yard of his family home.
He began selling used cars in high school. In 1962, he opened his first dealership, Moxie Motors, in Akron, Ohio.
His empire grew from there. With it, came a long list of firsts.
Case was brought to Fort Lauderdale where he opened two of the first two Hyundai dealerships in the country.
South Florida soon became his new base of operation, as well as a place he and his family would call home.
Case pioneered a common phrase heard nowadays whenever a car is being sold: “10-year; 100,000 mile warranty.”
“He said, ‘You need to give people confidence in order to buy our cars. You give them confidence by providing a warranty that is long enough that people feel good about buying our product,'” Mark Riley, general manager of Rick Case Honda Davie, said.
“Rick Case and my dad started off as business partners,” said 7News co-president James Ansin.
Case’s reach went far beyond the board room.
He and his wife, Rita Case, were pillars of the community. They donated to several causes aimed at bettering South Florida.
Recently, Rick Case Automotive Group signed a $50,000 check to Feeding South Florida during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Huge, huge thank you to Rick and Rita Case and the Case family,” said Paco Velez of Feeding South Florida. “You can’t go anywhere without finding their names supporting something, so they’re a huge pillar of this community, and we appreciate everything they’re doing for Feeding South Florida.”
Rick Case was also a huge supporter of Habitat for Humanity of Broward.
“They were very groundbreaking, and they were doing the hard work of creating houses,” said Ansin.
He and former WSVN owner, Ed Ansin, worked together to donate $1 million to the organization to undergo an ambitious project — a nine acre, 77-home community in Pompano Beach that, once completed, will give dozens of deserving families a place to call home.
The project is proudly called A Rick Case Habitat Community.
“He personally dug in, lifting a development was not easy, and there were so many times that Rick was around the table personally guiding,” said Habitat for Humanity CEO Nancy Robin.
The Case family also made it part of their mission to give back to the youth of South Florida.
Rick and Rita worked with the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County to better the lives of children across the area.
“He had the amazing ability to make everybody feel important,” said Matt Organ of the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County.
Over the years, tens of thousands of children were given the gift of a bicycle, an event that Rick looked forward to year-round.
“It’s just exciting to know that they’re actually getting a bike that they never have gotten,” Rick said one year.
Rick is survived by his wife and his children Rick, Ryan and Raquel as well as five grandchildren.
Rita released a statement on Tuesday night that read in part, “He was a wonderful husband and loving father. I will miss him so much; he was truly one of a kind and always so positive. I’m so proud of him and thankful to have shared 40 years with such a special, caring, and supportive husband.”
People all across South Florida have been sharing their thoughts and prayers with the Case family as well as the memories they have with Rick.
He will surely be missed by the entire South Florida community.
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