BERKELEY – Former Cal swimmer Richard Thornton, a two-time All-American and national champion, passed away on Thursday. The longtime head coach of San Ramon Valley Aquatics was 65.
 
Thornton, the son of legendary Cal head coach Nort Thornton, swam for Cal from 1977-80, earning All-American honors in 1977 and again in his senior season. He helped the Bears win the program's first two national championships in 1979 and 1980. Thornton specialized in the 100 and 200 butterfly and the 200 freestyle.
 
Thornton qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in the 200 free but did not attend due to the United States' boycott of the games.
 
After finishing his competitive swimming career, the 1980 graduate remained a mainstay in the sport for over four decades. In 1984, he took over the head coaching job for SRVA.  During his tenure, Thornton coached several future Olympians including Matt Biondi, who won 11 medals - including eight gold medals in the 1984, '88, and '92 Olympic Games.
 
Thornton was also named to several international coaching staffs, serving as the head coach of the 1995 U.S. World Championship team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an assistant coach on the U.S. Junior National Team in 1994 and the U.S. National Team in 1997. Thornton was awarded the ASCA Award of Excellence every year from 1988-94 and was the 1997 Pacific Swimming LSC Coach of the Year – another honor he was nominated for every year from 1994 through 2000.
 
Away from the pool, Thornton was an avid surfer and a member of the Santa Cruz surf community.

Update: A service for Richard will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 11 am at Saint Joan of Arc in San Ramon, Calif. There will be a reception following the service.