Mystic, Conn. —
Better known as Renny, he was born in Englewood, N.J., to Sibyl Elizabeth Hultin and Theodore Merseles Thompson. He spent most of his childhood living in Tenafly, N.J. and Fairfield, Conn., while spending summers at Trout Lake and Lake Placid, N.Y. After graduating from Northfield Mount Hermon School in 1960, he attended Princeton University, where he was a member of the lacrosse team, swim team and the Tower Club, graduating in 1964. He went on to complete two graduate degrees – a Masters of Architecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Masters of Education at Harvard University. While in graduate school, he met his bride Nancy Ellis Moore, whom he married on June 22, 1968, in New Castle, Del. They first lived in New York City while Renny worked for General Electric. Passionate for architecture and higher education, Renny’s career included strategic development planning for MIT, Princeton University, UPenn Hospitals and at UMass College of Liberal Arts. Notable accomplishments include the first Molecular Biology Science building at Princeton University and receiving the N.J. Governor’s Award for extraordinary success of the redesign and development of the Newark Public School system. He was also a talented residential architect throughout his career.
Renny was fascinated by nature. He was an avid fly fisherman, bird watcher, and outdoor enthusiast. He loved exploring the mountains and rivers of Montana, fishing on Block Island, playing the banjo, and collecting rare books. Renny’s family was his priority; he spent much of his free time attending his children’s sporting events, volunteering and coaching ice hockey. He was a faithful supporter of the Princeton University lacrosse team. Renny was a long time member of the The Flycasters Club of Boston, The Angler’s Club of New York, and belonged to Mason’s Island Yacht Club of Mystic.
Renny is survived by his wife, Nancy Thompson of Mystic; and his two brothers, Theodore Thompson of Hanover, N.H. and Everett Thompson of Norwich, Vt.; his three children, Ashley Foley of Stonington, Conn., Jenifer Breezley of Lafayette, Colo. and Reynolds M. Thompson of Denver, Colo.; two sons-in-law, Shaun Foley and Steve Breezley; and his six grandchildren, Phoebe, Connor and Cricket Foley, Jack and Sam Breezley, and Cate Thompson. He was also survived by his cousin, Hilary Gearity of Fayetteville, N.Y. and predeceased by cousin, Robert Wilson of Belmar, N.J.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Stonington, Conn. on Saturday, March 25 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in his name to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Fisher Center (www.alzinfo.org).