Cover photo for William Bradley Thompson's Obituary
William Bradley Thompson Profile Photo
1932 William 2013

William Bradley Thompson

September 13, 1932 — January 12, 2013

William Bradley Thompson Sr. was born September 13, 1932 in Tannersville, New York and died January 12, 2013 at his residence in Storrs, Connecticut surrounded by his wife of 52 years Annemarie, daughter Stacy and son Bill Jr. He had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer shortly after his eightieth birthday this past September. Bill grew up in Windham, New York. He graduated from Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central High School where he played on the undefeated state regional championship basketball team. Bill served in the United States Navy from 1952 to 1956. He trained at the Groton Submarine School and was stationed in the Pacific Submarine Fleet aboard the USS "Bashaw SSK-241" during the Korean War. After honorable discharge from the Navy he graduated from SUNY Albany (B.S. Biology, MA Public Administration) where he lettered in soccer, basketball, and baseball. Bill had over 35 years of management and supervisory experience in the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants. Notably, he oversaw and managed the startup of the 1.27 Billion-Gallon-Per-Day Deer Island Wastewater Treatment plant in Boston, Massachusetts. He had numerous papers published in industry journals and publications and was bestowed by Governor John Y. Brown Jr. the title of "Kentucky Colonel" for service to the state of Kentucky. Bill was a certified lay speaker in the United Methodist Church (UMC) and his name was placed on the church bell of the Newtonville, NY UMC for meritorious service. He oversaw numerous church renovations, and was Project Manager for the "Welcoming All Accessibility Renovation" for the Storrs Congregational Church. Bill was an avid fan of theatre. He performed the role of the Mikado in "The Mikado" in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Other productions included "Godspell," "Oliver," and most recently "Scrooge, The Musical" in Storrs, CT. In April 1960, he was featured in an early promotional advertising campaign for Marlboro Cigarettes as "The Marlboro Man" in full page advertisements in magazines such as Life and on a billboard in Times Square. Ironically, he was not a smoker. Bill was a lifelong blood donor and was a member of Masonic Mountain Lodge #529. Bill also was involved in many exciting cross country trips and art projects, including most recently, assisting with the conceptual design and building of an art installation for 2012-2013 Sculpture Key West. All who knew Bill will attest to his humility and strength and his affinity for telling interesting stories of his childhood in the Catskill Mountains near Windham and Maplecrest. Bill Thompson was the son of Donald Ward Thompson and Eva Roselia Hitchcock. He was predeceased by his mother Eva, his father Donald, his grandson Evan Donald Malecki, and niece Amy Thompson. He is survived by his beloved wife, Annemarie Bahr Thompson; his daughter Stacy Thompson Malecki and her husband Bob of Storrs, Connecticut and son Bill Thompson Jr. and his wife Lori Bast Thompson of St. Thomas US Virgin Islands; grandchildren Alec Robert Malecki, Samantha Thompson Malecki, Emily Talisse Thompson and William Bradley Thompson III (Trey). He is also survived by his brothers Herbert Donald of Windham, NY, Donald Ward Jr. of Port Ludlow, Washington, Robert Alan of Quaker Street Village, NY, his beloved step-mother Phyllis Parkman Thompson of Delray Beach, FL, and sisters Mary Brooke Thompson-Mills of Stoughton, MA and Wendy Elizabeth Thompson of East Greenbush, NY as well as nieces and nephews Vicki Cammer, Donna Cole, Christopher Thompson, Robert Thompson, Jason Thompson, Heather Mills, and Aaron Mills. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 10:00 am at the Storrs Congregational Church, 2 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, 06268 followed by a reception in the church auditorium. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Storrs Congregational Church, address above or the USO Operation Enduring Care, Department WS, P.O. Box 96860, Washington, DC 20090. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .
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