Dr. John Edward Thompson, 82, died with his family at his side at the Rosewood Nursing Home in Peabody on Feb. 25.
Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 25 years ago, Thompson continued to pursue his passions with tenacity and optimism. A Wenham resident for nearly 60 years, he practiced dentistry in an office attached to his home.
Born in Schenectady, N.Y., was the son of the late Walter Marvin and Frances Houseworth Thompson and brother of the late David Houseworth Thompson. He was a graduate of Amherst College and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1957.
Following his time in the Navy, Dr. Thompson opened a family dental practice in Wenham. He was the first dentist in town and took great pride in his craft. He often felt that the best part of dentistry was interacting with his patients and their families.
He adored language and words, and was known for his puns and sharp sense of humor. He appreciated music, good food and wine, and loved to travel with his wife. In his spare time he cycled, gardened, sailed, designed and cast jewelry, made exquisite woodcarvings, and achieved small miraculous feats of engineering. Photography, carpentry, and thousands of inventive projects and mini-adventures kept him thinking and producing at all times.
Dr. Thompson’s favorite place was the family camp on Bear Island on Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H. There, he was in his element: undertaking projects, solving maintenance and upkeep problems, hosting friends, rowing, sailing, watching birds, cutting and splitting firewood, and creating original tools like the “Wonder Dock Prop” and the “Magna Carta Wheelbarrow.” He especially enjoyed rowing on the lake early in the morning. His love of New Hampshire began in his late teens when he was a camp counselor at Northwoods Camp in Moultonborough.
In addition to his many tangible accomplishments, he will be remembered by family and friends for his gentle disposition and infallible wisdom.
He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Ernst Thompson; his son, William and his wife, Natalie Pangaro, of Jamaica Plain; his daughter, Holly Pomeroy and her husband, Robert, of Yokohama, Japan; his daughter, Pamela Jeffries and her husband, Peter, of Milton; and his daughter, Emily Lathrop and her husband, Christopher, of North Andover; and six grandchildren, Dexter Thompson-Pomeroy, Isabel Thompson-Pomeroy, Ailsa Jeffries, Rachel Slobodzinski, Julian Lathrop and Zoë Lathrop.
A gathering to celebrate his life will be held at a
later date.
Donations may be made to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 766, Center Harbor, NH 03226, or to the Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Wenham, MA 01984.