ORLEANS, MA: Brewster-Richard L. Thompson passed away peacefully on November 19, 2019 at The Terraces in Orleans, MA, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 86 years old. Born on May 17, 1933 in New London, CT, he was the son of George B. Thompson, Jr. and Hazel L. Thompson. He lived with his parents in New London, CT, Worcester and Newton, MA, and in 1952 graduated from Newton High School. He then attended and graduated from Brown University in 1956, where he was a member of the Delta Phi Fraternity. After attending Cornell Law School for a year, where he met his future wife, Carolyn, he transferred to and graduated from Yale Law School in 1959. While in Law School, he worked summers for the National Labor Relations Board in Boston.
Following graduation from Yale Law School, he was married to Carolyn Harvie of Chambersburg, PA in 1959 and they lived in Providence, RI where he was an associate for the Providence Law firm of Tillinghast, Collins, and Tanner. In 1963 they moved to Westfield, MA where Dick became a corporate lawyer for the then Stanley Home Products Company, specializing in labor and real estate law. He became Assistant Secretary of the Corporation.
While living in Westfield, Dick especially enjoyed going to his ski chalet in Ludlow, VT and skiing at nearby Killington. He became an expert skier and enjoyed skiing with his wife and their two children. Later, he enjoyed traveling especially to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and Williamsburg, VA.
Following his retirement from the then Stanhome Company, the family moved to Brewster on Cape Cod and Dick joined his wife in her antique business, Bayberry Antiques. After having a shop in Brewster and then North Chatham, they did antique shows in Massachusetts and other New England states, and also Pennsylvania, featuring Americana and Ephemera. Dick was a member of the Cape Cod Antiques Dealers Association for many years. He was a long time member of the First Congregational Church of Harwich, where he had served as a Trustee.
Besides his wife, Carolyn, Dick is survived by his daughter, Laura McFaden and son-in-law, Frank McFaden of Jupiter, FL and Orleans, MA, a son, Richard E. Thompson and daughter-in-law, Melanie Cauchon of Brewster, MA and grandchildren Blair, Nicholas, Lauren, and William. Also surviving are a niece, Lisa Vander Sluis Whitney and husband David of Seattle, WA, and nephews Dr. Stephen H. Vander Sluis and wife, Pamela, of Madison, WI, and Attorney David K. Vander Sluis and wife, Kristin of Knoxville, TN.
The family would like to thank The Terraces for the kind and compassionate care that he received there. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Harwich on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to the Cervo Foundation for Brain Research at www.inmemoryofmrthompson.com, or to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, 3981 Main St, Brewster, MA 02601. For online condolences, please visit www.doanebealamesharwich.com
