Thorice — Finding Balance on the Mat and in Life

Growing up in Florida, Thorice longed for something more. “I didn’t like it much. I always knew I wanted something different.”

Summers in Boston planted that dream. “My grandmother and I would visit my aunt who lived in the city. There were more opportunities here — I knew I’d come back one day,” Thorice says. After his grandmother passed, Thorice returned to Boston at 18 and found work. Soon after, he became a father.

Life took a sharp turn a year later when he encountered legal troubles. Despite these challenges, Thorice was determined to turn his life around. He attended UMass for two years and completed an internship where he managed sober houses. During that time, he fell in love and moved to Florida seeking new opportunities.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when his wife died of cancer a few years into their marriage. Thorice became homeless after her family took everything from him in a legal battle. Thorice recalls, “I thought I was going to die.”

Devastated by the loss of his wife, alone, and with no place to call home, Thorice needed a fresh start. He returned to Boston — a community where he felt connected to friends and family. Once he arrived, Thorice made his way to Pine Street Inn.

He spent some time in shelter where staff provided him with the resources needed to help rebuild his life. Eventually, his case manager helped him secure housing in Brookline. “I have my own keys. I pay my own rent. I enjoy the privacy, and the neighborhood feels safe,” Thorice smiles. “I’ve come a long way from thinking I might die.”

Now 60, Thorice enjoys practicing Egyptian yoga and dreams of opening his own studio. He’s also rebuilding his relationship with his daughter. “She calls me Pops and says ‘I love you’ every day,” he shares.

Though life still has its challenges, Thorice now has a community he can depend on. “I’m grateful for the support I have from Pine Street,” he shares. “My life’s finally coming full circle.”