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R. Thompson Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for R. Thompson
Scooter Lang
October 2, 2008
To Bob and the Thompson family,
Bob I so sorry to hear about Don passing away.
In our business, when someone who was truly loved and respected as he was, hurts us all.
I was very honered to know such a great man.
We will all miss him.
Bill & Dottie Abbott
October 2, 2008
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Bill & Dottie (Alley) Abbott
Class of 1953
North Quincy High School
John & Jinnie Walsh
September 30, 2008
to Don's family I wish you all the best and will hold you in my prayers. Don was a wonderful person and I was glad to have him as a friend. He visited my home on the beach at the Caberet Beach party the past few years and seemed to have a wonderful time and I was glad to see him I have eaten at both rest and he was always there working hard for his family. Me and my wife Jinnie will truly miss him.
Gail Glasheen
September 30, 2008
To the Thompson Family:
Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of Don. We had many fun years together at Cabaret. The world was a better place because of him. He will be missed.
Jackie & Bob Belliveau
September 29, 2008
Our lives will never be the same. He was truly "A Class Act" and one that cannot be duplicated. Whatever he did, he did it right! It was his way, "to do it right". As my Dad taught me, and when I told him how many times my Dad would say this to me, he would chuckle as he really did love it: "How come there's not enough time to do the job right, but ALWAYS time to do IT over". And, he lived his life that way too, (he always did things right!).
That was in the late 40's and early 50's in No. Quincy and Squantum Yacht Club....We never did date, we were just "friends"...but blood friends...My Mother and His were good friends then, too. (He was surprised to see me at her funeral service in Wollaston, at St. Chrysostums, but he was also really pleased.) So we do go way, way back...Fondly, and proudly, we think.
Don had a quality most men don't have, a kindness and caring, that's deep and really meaningful. Never superficial. He wasn't a phony. He Didn't know how to be one. He was real. A Class Act. A true Gentleman who really loved life. He got a laugh out of every situation. Or simply made it seem that way to hide whatever hurt life gave him; because He never showed hurt. And when others were hurt he'd find a nice way to say: " it'll be ok, you'll get over it, give it time". When he said that, you didn't get insulted like he'd blown you off, you believed - and it did get better.
There were acts before him who taught all of us well: Frank & Bud Barrett from Howard Johnson, The Hinghamites: Bud Moffatt, Jack Galvin, John Morton; and so on. The Cabaret gang, Greg Hall; the Barbershoppers, The Community Center Troopers; each of whom had something to do with all of our lives. They've made it special, A Class Act. All of us had many great laughs.
Never an argument, always a laugh. Always a kindness and a congratulatory tone. A friendship to be treasured - Each One. Because Don and Carol showed all of us the way: A Class Act. One which surely will be Hard to Follow.
Rest In Peace Dear Don, You've Earned it. May you Sleep in His Arms for your Jobs Well Done! God Bless and Keep You. We will never forget you.
Jackie & Bob Belliveau 9/29/08
Chuck Whelan
September 29, 2008
I'll miss my friend Don, as will my son Matt and his mother Connie. We were so saddened to lose such a good friend.
he showed such kindness when my son was born.
I'll miss his bad jokes, as well! Rest in peace, my friend... we'll all miss you.
"Loudy"
September 29, 2008
Don was always a pleasant gentleman everytime I said hello to him at Poopsie's...where I've going since I was a kid. Over the past nine years, I have been lucky enough to be a "regular" and a friend of many who work for Don, or are patrons of Don's...I can truly say it is a place where evryone knows my name and again...it was always a pleasure to see Don. I will miss his "hello Mike's" and "good to see you's".
Ed Dann, Jr.
September 29, 2008
It was with a heavy heart that I learned that Don had passed. He was a great guy as many will attest. My mother Gail sends her condolences as well and has many fun memories from the Cabaret years. I wish you strength and peace as the days pass and look forward to the Vaudvillian acts in Heaven that Don will be conducting.
He is a personality that the South Shore and beyond will greatly miss. He was as few are, a fixture in the community.
God Bless,
Ed Dann, Jr.
Robin Taylor
September 29, 2008
Carol and family, I am very saddened by the loss of Don, a wonderful man. He was in my family's life since I was born the same week as Heather.
Remember the best moments and god bless.
John Fee
September 29, 2008
To Heather & Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. It will be different going into Poopsie's and not seeing your Dad either working his butt off or holding court.
Penny & Stu Chase
September 29, 2008
Dear Carol and family,
Stu and I were very saddened to hear of Don's passing. We have many fond memories of our times together in Hingham at the Rielly Pool Parties. Don always had a big smile and a hearty laugh. A very sincere man who cared deeply for others. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Carol at this time and the days to follow.
Love,
Penny & Stu Chase
sarah armstrong
September 29, 2008
im sorry to hear of your loss.
i will miss don. he was a wonderful man.
i will miss talkin to him at the bank about the sox and will miss seein him in the hingham cabaret. :(
Caroline Rocha-Sheehy
September 29, 2008
Dear Christian,
To you and your entire family we extend our condolences.
In Sympathy,
Caroline and Shawn Sheehy
Barbara O'Neil
September 29, 2008
Dear Mrs. Thompson, Heather, Bob, Christian and Joy,
I was so saddened to hear about your father. He was a wonderful man, and I have many happy memories of spending time with him. He always made me feel so comfortable and loved when I was in his presence. I know how much you all loved him. He will be sorely missed by everyone, but his memory will live on forever in our hearts.
Love, Barbara O'Neil
Love John and Ellen OBrien
September 28, 2008
To the man who was always there for his family and always had a smile for a friend and lived life to the fullest. God bless you Don Thompson!
Jean and Jake Monahan
September 28, 2008
Carol and Family,
We were with Don and Carol only once with the trip to Ireland. His wit and laughter are great memories. So sorry for your loss.
Jean and Jake Monahan
Englewood, Fl
Andrew Carter
September 28, 2008
To the Thompson family,
I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Bobby Belliveau
September 27, 2008
Tender Moments with Don Thompson
Last Friday afternoon, I was in town to attend my 35th Weymouth South High School class reunion in Hull. I called Paul Hirtle to see if he’d meet me at the Liberty Grille in Hingham for a few beers to catch up and chat. Just after I called Paul, I called Bobby Thompson to see if he could join us, but he was on his way to Poopsies to go to work and was disappointed he couldn’t join us. I met Paul at 4PM at the Grille, and Bartender Guy of ‘GuyVille’ took good care of us. Each time I go into the Liberty Grille building, I get very melancholy about being there, as Paul and I spent so much time to help bring the restaurant back to its new life. When Paul and I sit at the mahogany bar, we are both so very proud of our carpentry ‘handiwork’, as we built it. Don and Christian allowed us to create a piece of history in creating the bar itself, and I think we actually signed our names on it somewhere under the countertop. We actually helped take the old heavy safe out from behind the bar wall. As usual, Paul held court, seeing many townies and friends. We got caught up on our lives and the busy-ness of them. While sitting there, I wished that I might have a chance to see Don and Christian Thompson to say hello in the short couple of hours that I’d be there before my reunion.
Sure enough, Don and Christian came in through the kitchen door around 5 o’clock, and Don saw Paul sitting at the seat next to the entrance hall window. Don gave Paul a big handshake and said hello. Then, Don looked over, and kind of recognized me, but wasn’t sure…and then the surprised look on his face in recognizing me was just priceless. He really couldn’t believe that I was sitting there, knowing I was living in Chicago, gazing at me with my short ever-graying hairline, not believing I was standing there in front of him. I was excited to see him; we hugged and embraced, and it was a tender moment. I had not seen Don since my wonderful 50th birthday golf tourney at SSCC, and the big birthday party he and Christian hosted for us at the Liberty Grille three years ago. I brought a photo album with me to show Paul the recent pictures of my family here in Chicago. I was glad Don had the chance to see them, too, as he had not seen any pictures of my two year old daughter Juliette. It was another tender moment in time for me looking at Don’s face beam with such pride of him seeing my family. The beers kept coming, and we chatted about so many things in such a short time: his golf game, the recent trip he took with a crew out to Chicago in August for the Red Sox/White Sox series, the Thompson kids and Carol, his new grandkids’ stories, the two ‘Stores’, etc. It felt like I was ‘reporting in’ to the additional ‘Fathers’ I have in my life to make sure I pass muster. I left the Grille at 6:15, feeling ‘great’, and went my merry way to my class reunion in Hull (which was a ball). I never saw a bar tab, and was so very, very, glad that I saw Paul, Don, and Christian, wishing I could have stayed at the Grille all night, laughing ‘til my sides and face hurt, like many old times during Cabaret Januarys.
Paul called me on my cell phone in Chicago this past Wednesday morning. I thought that it was kind of odd for him to call me at that hour. He said:
“Hey Bob: Ha-y-yah! Gheeze, it was great to see yah last Friday night! God, we had a ball with Don and Chris didn’t we!!!”
“Yeahhhh, it WAS awesome Paully!” I said, “Yah-know, I really do miss and love all you guys, and I get pretty emotional every time I come ‘home’ to Boston for any visit, which is why I always call you guys to get together.”
Then Paul said to me:
“Yahh Bob, it was a tender moment bein’ there, wasn’t it…Well.., you’re gonna’ need to always remember that tender moment, because Don passed away last night…”
My heart sank. I sat down in my office chair in disbelief, thinking Don can’t ever die. I could immediately hear the timber and tone of Don’s voice in my head right then, telling me the story of the Sox/Sox trip while we were together 5 days earlier, thinking of that tender moment. Then, I heard his laughter and saw his face in my mind. I hear it now as I write this.
As I fondly reflect on the influence that Don has had on my life over the years, I feel a broad smile appear on my face through the sadness. The indelible mark of goodness, kindness, sense of family, and especially of giving…such immense giving: of volunteer time, money, and love, and the massive amount of infectious laughter he initiated to all, will be forever etched in my mind. I remember the first 3 words Don always said whenever he goes to a microphone, or stands in front a crowd; somehow we all say with him at the same time “Hey, Hey, Hey!!!”, and then the laughter starts.
Don has always been the turn-to guy, should-have-been-the-lifelong-Mayor, the toastmaster, and the consummate host of Hingham. He has always reminded me of The Honorable Mayor of Hollywood’s sidewalk Star of Fame, Johnny Grant. I have always known Don as a positive, caring, father figure, and someone who organizes the town to get things done…especially in January at the Armory.
I remember the night when Don and Greg Hall came to the Hingham cable TV studio for Paul, Larry Dedian, and me to put Greg in the chroma-key setup for his now famous Cabaret show ending of “That’s All Folks” (like the end of the Looney Tunes Cartoons). We laughed like hell with tears in our eyes that night in producing the bit, doing multiple takes, and left at 2 in the morning, and was glad I had a lot of beer in the studio to loosen Greg and Don up for the bit. My parents have many tall tales and stories with the Thompsons, Reillys, Claypools, O’Briens, Cullers, et al, from their long life of friendships, and past Januarys. My Dad would always say: “Well, we’re going to Hingham to go to the Thompson’s, -better bring ice.” The Cabaret memories of Don -and all, are legendary. I imagine many will tell tall tales in the coming weeks of Don’s passion to the Community Center, and to his family.
Don had a tremendous impact on my life as one of the other father figures in my life. I always looked up to him in respect, and appreciated the depth of his wisdom and advice, and his love. I’ve known the Thompsons my whole life, and never lived in Hingham. Don’s influence is a part of my character, and I am proud to have known him. I know that Paul Hirtle was especially close to Don, looking up to him when his own Dad, Ron Hirtle, passed away. Don was there for the Hirtle family. My parents have shared a long friendship with the Thompsons. We have all watched them dressed up in zany, silly, costumes as a bunch of nuts on stage in Januarys, making us kids think that it is fun and not embarrassing to do (-how right they were, as we do so now). The hysterical laughter of Don throwing “MAKE-UP…” pies of powder in Greg Halls face made us laugh until our faces hurt. Don and Greg were Laurel and Hardy. Januarys went buy so fast all those years. I looked forward each night to see Don and all the Cabaret’ers to laugh and sweat and exercise my liver. I miss that fun.
I am deeply saddened by Don’s passing, but I am smiling in thanks to Don for his wonderful life and the legacy he has left us. My wife Lynne and I, and my extended Belliveau family members, offer our deepest condolences to the Thompson family.
As I await the day when I (and others) might be lucky enough to pass through the ‘Pearly Gates’ on my way to a tee time at ‘The Links at St. Peter’s Old Course’, I look forward to seeing Don Thompson standing there at the starters bench. He’ll have a beer handy, a pack of smokes, a clipboard to organize the golf tournament with a scruffy ‘Pits’ hat on, waiting to shake our hands with a glowing smile, and have a microphone in his hand ready to greet us all by announcing “Hey, Hey, Hey!!!” to start the shotgun of eternal fun. That will truly be a very tender moment.
Bobby Belliveau
[email protected]
Keri (O'Brien) Dezell
September 27, 2008
To the Thompson Family,
Your Dad, was a wonderful man who will surely be missed by so many. I wish I could be there in person to give each of you a hug. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
With much love,
Traci Lloyd-Maggard
September 27, 2008
To Carol and her children,
We were shocked to hear about Dons' untimely passing. Leaving this world a Better place having contributed to it as Don has , is something we can all aspire to. Our Love and prayers are with you.
P.S. Don-THANKYOU for Poopsies!
Traci and Greg Maggard
Bob Munn
September 27, 2008
The news of "Mr. T". passing is extremely sad. I picture PTown and I remember hot days on his Lanai. A gentle wind is blowing on the change of tide; a cooler being used as a table beween 4 chairs. This was the daily cribbage game I was so lucky to be a part of. I remember specifically Mr. T. being a very formitiable opponent. Beers in hand and conversation that ranged from golf to politics and maybe even the beautiful weather! I couldn't have a spent a vacation day in any better way. Not only did I play a better game of cribbage because of Mr. T, but more importantly I was treated his laughter and insight which in retrospect I carry with me to this day. God rest your soul Mr. T, you are greatly missed.
Our family's prayers and condolence are with the Thompson family.
Janet Fogarty Kelley
September 27, 2008
Our condolence to Christian and the entire Thompson family. Your Father was a great man. This is a sad loss to the entire South shore community. He leaves an indelible mark on the South Shore which will carry on through his wonderful family, fabulous restaurants, and iconic pizza. So many of us grew up with Poopsies and adore Liberty Grill. A great Republican, he will be sorely missed by all in the GOP.
Our deepest sympathy,
Janet (Fogarty) and Tim Kelley
Gay (Gallivan) Jacques
September 27, 2008
Dear Thompson Family,
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Thompson. My thoughts and prays are with you all at this difficult time.
Mike Corwin
September 27, 2008
To Bobby and Family:
I am truly sorry for your loss. I have been going to Poopsies for so many years. I got to know your father throughout the years and even had several beers with him on numerous occasions. Don was a likable guy with his customers and just an all around great guy. He will be sadly missed. My condolences to the Thompson family.
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