Who is Gordie Vance from Lucifer's Hammer and what is their importance?

Gordie Vance is Harvey's next door neighbor who wants to take Harvey's son, Andy, on a hike with a group of scouts. Gordie actually has embezzled a significant amount of money from the bank where he works and is planning to commit suicide while on the hike. After the comet strike, he notes that he now doesn't have to die. When Harvey finds him, Gordie and his group of scouts have rescued some young girls, and Gordie has paired off with one of them.