Rick Case, who helped build an automotive dealership empire in several areas including South Florida while also giving back to the community through several organizations, died Monday at the age of 77.
© Aaron Davidson
![a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera: POMPANO BEACH, FL – MARCH 24: Rick Case attends Secretary Ben Carson and Governor Rick Scott Celebrate Habitat for Humanity of Broward’s New Rick Case Habitat Community on March 24, 2017 in Pompano Beach, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Habitat for Humanity of Broward)](https://www.msn.com/{"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"46","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19kUJN.img?h=464&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=615&y=351"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"36","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19kUJN.img?h=362&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=615&y=351"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"36","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB19kUJN.img?h=362&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=615&y=351"}})
POMPANO BEACH, FL – MARCH 24: Rick Case attends Secretary Ben Carson and Governor Rick Scott Celebrate Habitat for Humanity of Broward’s New Rick Case Habitat Community on March 24, 2017 in Pompano Beach, Florida. (Photo by Aaron Davidson/Getty Images for Habitat for Humanity of Broward)
A spokesperson for the family said Case died at his home surrounded by family after dealing with an aggressive form of cancer.
Case and his wife, Rita, owned 16 dealerships in three states, moving to South Florida in 1985 as part of an automotive empire that employed over 1,200 people and made more than $1 billion in annual sales.
The Cases were familiar with charities in the area, including Nova Southeastern University and the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County, where they had been board members since the mid-1980s.
Case leaves behind his wife of 40 years and three kids – Rick, Ryan and Raquel. A private memorial for family will be held at a later date.