Joseph A. Thompson Jr.

Joseph Thompson Obituary

Of Dorchester, November 14, 2007. Retired Madison Park High School Educator. Beloved father of Kurt Thompson and his wife Robin of Fitchburg. Grandfather of Shaquille Monroe of Fitchburg. Dear son of Mary Branch of Boston. Brother of Phyllis L. Bell of Atlanta, GA and Richard L. Thompson of Augusta, GA. He leaves a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral Service Wednesday at 11 AM at Davis Funeral Home ROXBURY, 89 Walnut Avenue. Visiting with the family Tuesday 2-4 and 6-8pm. Burial Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. Donations in his memory may be made to the United Negro College Fund, 8260 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, P.O. Box 10444, Fairfax, VA 22031-8044. Visit DavisFuneralHomeBoston .com to send a sympathy message to the family.

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Published by Boston Globe from Nov. 18 to Nov. 20, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Thompson

3 Entries

Tracey

July 6, 2024

Mr. Thompson, I am so sorry to hear of your passing I am sending my condolences to your beautiful family. I was thinking of you because I wanted to see you and share my story and thank you. Let me honor you by sharing my story here. My name was Tracey Garcia and I was an English High School student in 1985. I struggled in that school and missed many days I just couldn't navigate all that I needed to do and I never sought help or told anyone. I thought I was hiding but remember many times you seeing me and asking me how I was doing. It was the first time anyone had asked me that question or even talked to me in that school. I didn't confide in you then but you didn't stop there you called my mom who had no idea of my struggle and discussed an alternative school that may work better for me. Boston Prep a school where I could work and gain life skills and still go to school and graduate. It was much smaller and would give me the attention I needed. My mother agreed and I went on to graduate eventually went on to Simmons College and Harvard University. Harvard was a challenge but because of the seed you planted, it was an option for me and my life grew in a different direction. I got married had children own my home and now I'm teaching at BPS. What you did for me may have been your job but it was an important part of my life and I am forever grateful sorry I didn't get a chance to say that face to face. I pray that your spirit knows your life was necessary to so many. Love Tracey

Judge Severlin Singleton

December 6, 2007

My friend is gone. I will certaintly miss him. I met Joe in 1973 when we both began our first year of law school at Northeastern University School of Law. Boy what an ordeal those three years were. But Joe was determined. We both graduated together and then went our separate ways. Joe eventually gave up on the law. I don't think it fulfilled his need to make everyone's life he came in contact with a little better. I know that is what drove him. He was Mr. Helping Hand. He placed no limit on his mind or body. If there was someone in his circle that needed a helping hand, he would be there with whatever he or she needed at the moment. Sometimes I would run into him on the streets of Boston or Cambridge. I had known that he rarely slept because of the time involved with his many endeavors so I would always ask him if he was getting enough sleep. Always the answer would be, "Sleep, who has time to sleep, there is work to do." After a brief conversation, we would part but not before he put a business card in my hand revealing his current venture or ventures. One morning, I happened to see the last card Joe had given me. It was sitting in my desk drawer mixed in with the 50 or so cards scattered in the drawer. I pulled it out and decided to call Joe later that day. But before i could call him, I read in the Globe that he had passed away earlier in the week and his service was that day. Ironic, that I would reach for his card on the day i found out he passed away. No, it was Joe saying goodbye to me the way he always did, by giving me his card which read "Joe Thompson Ministries" He was truly a messenger of God. Joe....I love you and we will certainly all miss you.

john glynn

December 1, 2007

May Joe rest in Peace. He was a good man and I had the Honor and Pleasure to work with Him @ Boston English High School. Joe CARED and
Helped People and He did it with a smile and a kind word !

Once a student @ English was thinking of Suicide ... Joe was able to reach the Young Man in a way that NO-ONE ELSE COULD ...
... Later when I asked Joe what His 'secret' was he replied, ' I just asked the kid,-''Why do you want to do that for ?''
Joe knew that by giving the person the simple dignity of having RESPECT for their choices He could accomplish more than a Bldg.full of 'Professionals' !

Should I say that We will not see
His likes again Joe's easygoing response would be ,'Oh, I'll be around .''

See Ya' around Joe...

.... See Ya' around.
Your Friend,
John Glynn

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