SOUTHWICK – Peter Merritt Thompson, 75, of 3 South Village, died at Genesis Health Care of Westfield on Monday, November 25, 2013, held by the love of those with him, but, also, of those far away. Pete was born in Morris Plains, NJ, to Howard Everett Thomson and Elizabeth Clark Thompson. He joined his older sister, Jini.He graduated from Morristown High School in 1956 and from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA in 1960. Here he met his future wife, Jane, and a glorious group of friends, especially from Sigma Chi. Upon graduation, having completed the R.O.T.C. program, Pete left for Ft. Bliss, El Paso, TX. He and Jane married in 1962 and began their life together at Ft. Bliss. Pete was shipped from Texas to Key West, FL during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After nine years in Delaware, the Thompson family, now including children Melanie and Matthew, moved to Southwick in 1971.
Pete worked for the State of Connecticut in computer programming. His avocations were raising farm animals, and, always, his art. A talented wood carver, he did exquisite bas reliefs as well as many abstracts. Pete was a member of Southwick Congregational Church, and sang bass in the choir for forty years. Music and the choir community were important to him. A couple guitars, banjo, ukulele, and the piano, he played for his own pleasure at home. Tennis, golfing with his loyal friend Frank, drawing cartoons, and word puns added to his pleasures.
Pete leaves his wife, Jane, after fifty-one beautiful years together, his much-loved daughter, Melanie Thompson of Wilmington, Delaware, and her happy gift of a grandson, Owen Matthew Thompson, named for his Uncle Matthew, who died in 1988. Pete and Jane also lost their first baby in 1965. Pete leaves his sister, Jini Jacob, in Portland, Oregon. Despite illness and distance they remained close. He always loved the fun and laughter of being with his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Sally and Dick McBride of Watertown, MA and Charlotte Bacon of Simsbury, CT. He would also want to say, “Thanks”, to his nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, cousins and friends, whose company he so enjoyed. He was a man of gentle ways, calm manner, and wonderful dry humor. How he loved us all, and how we have loved him! Pete showed his courage and determination throughout a twenty years’ battle against Parkinson’s disease. He has made a gift of his body to the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
A Memorial Service will be held at Southwick Congregational Church, 488 College Highway on December 14th, at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow.
Donations in his memory may be given to the church at P.O. Box 260, to the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida, 1048 Goodlette Road, Suite 201, Naples, FL 34102, or to the Matthew H. Thompson Memorial Scholarship, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV 26201.
The family wishes to thank those who have cared for Pete and for them during these sad days, and that includes the comforting care received form the staff at Genesis Health Care of Westfield and the Noble Hospital Visiting Nurse and Hospice.
