Sidney Alexander Thompson

MR. THOMPSON WAS THE MOST POPULAR TEACHER AT PACOIMA JR. HIGH OF WHICH I ATTENDED. AS AN ATHLETE, I WOULD PARTICIPATE WITH MR. THOMPSON AT THE NOON FACULTY PICK UP BASKETBALL GAMES. 40 YEARS LATER WE WOULD MEET AGAIN AND TALK WHILE WORKING OUT TOGETHER AT THE LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC CLUB. MR. THOMPSON WAS A GREAT COMMUNICATOR WHO MADE EVERYONE WITH WHOM HE SPOKE, FEEL VERY SPECIAL. WITH THE UPMOST RESPECT FOR KNOWING MR. THOMPSOM, I WAS BLESSED AND HONORED TO CALL HIM A FRIEND. JACK WEISS

MR. THOMPSON WAS PROBABLY THE MOST LIKED AND RESPECTED TEACHER AT PACOIMA JR. HIGH. I HAD MANY ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCES AS A STUDENT PLAYING BASKETBALL AT NOON RECESS WITH MR. THOMPSON AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS. HIS SMILE AND FRIENDLY MANNER WAS INVICTIOUS. HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL OF US WHO HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM.

There are some people in life who leave a lasting impact on us. Mr. Thompson was one of those people for me. When I met Mr. Thompson, I knew I was about to embark on a journey that would change my life forever. He was not just a patient I cared for, but he quickly became a dear friend and a father figure that I could always turn to. His soul was so pure and beautiful that it was impossible not to feel drawn towards him. He had a heart of gold and a soul that radiated warmth. In my view, we...

On the last day of the semester, January 31, 1957 my math teacher saved my life. Sid Thompson and I were in our first year at Pacoima Junior High. Sid's bungalow classroom was closest to the gym field where the burning wreckage of a DC-7 airliner had fallen from the sky. I was critically burned. Running to the field from his room, Sid saw me and covered me with his coat. Then he carried me to an approaching LAPD patrol car. Sid told the officer I needed attention NOW and put me in the...

To Sidney Thompson,,, The world was a better place when Sid was with us. I had the privilege of being his student for two years at Pacoima Junior High And shared a summer As a junior Camp counselor. Words are inadequate To describe The positive influence He had Upon me and And who had the fortune to know him. Blessings to all And know that The burden of your Grieving is shared by many.

In 1957 I was pretty much wandering through life with little or no direction or purpose. I lived with my mother who was an invalid in the San Fernando Gardens Housing project, I had never met my natural father, and we lived in utter poverty. At that crucial point in my life a man came into my world, Mr. Sid Thompson, who took an interest in me and my future and provided me with the positive role model I desperately needed. He taught me the virtues of honesty and integrity and was...

I attended Pacoma Junior High School when Sidney Thompson was a relatively new teacher. In 1961 he signed my 7th grade yearbook writing across his little faculty photo. I followed his career over the years, always remembering the wonderful model he was - of warmth, friendliness, integrity, and mostly caring. He was the epitome of an educator. Thank you, Mr. Thompson