Search by Name

Search by Name

GEOFFREY THOMPSON Obituary

THOMPSON--Geoffrey "Jeff" Acheson. 79, was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and respected Wall Street executive, full of warmth, humor and generosity. He died peacefully at home on August 3rd in Lyme, CT from complications of heart surgery. He was surrounded by family including his wife of 54 years, Claudia, his daughter Marina Cummins, son-in-law James, granddaughters Lila and Louisa, brothers Jonathan and Kimberley, sister Kathy McCurdy and brother- in-law John. Born on October 26th, 1940 in White Plains, NY to Julia (Acheson) and Fred D. Thompson, Jeff was the eldest of five siblings. As a child he lived in Chappaqua and Montreal, but primarily grew up in Central Valley, NY. He attended high school at Deerfield Academy and at 16 spent a memorable year in the Australian outback working on a sheep station with his brother Jonathan. Jeff graduated from Columbia University in 1963, where he majored in history, served in the United States Navy from 1963 to 1965 and received an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1967. Jeff had an enterprising spirit and often joked that he'd held seventy- two jobs in his life, from waiting tables to driving taxis. He started his professional life at Newsweek, as International Circulation Director, but transitioned in 1970 to banking, where he spent the bulk of his career. He held positions growing in rank and responsibility at AG Becker and Citicorp, then joined GE Capital in 1978 as General Manager and Vice-President for their consumer finance business. In 1981 he went to work for Marine Midland Bank and was appointed President and CEO from 1985-1990. He stayed on as CEO after the company was acquired by HSBC and served on the HSBC board for eight years. He later worked in the executive search business and in private equity, first at Kohlberg & Company and later as a private investor. Jeff served on multiple corporate boards, including THOR Industries, The Guardian Trust Company and The Credit Store. Jeff also believed in the importance of giving back and dedicated himself to several charitable organizations over the years including the Near East Foundation, a family enterprise, where he served as Chairman; the American Federation for Aging Research as Vice-Chair; the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute as Trustee and Executive Committee Member and The American Red Cross of New York as Vice-Chair. Jeff loved to sail, and was a long-time member of the New York Yacht Club. He captained many boats throughout his life and many of his fondest memories were adventures at sea on trips to Maine, Nova Scotia and around the world. Stories of close calls and full-on-disasters were told with gusto and great enjoyment throughout his life. Most of all, Jeff delighted in family. He and Claudia married in St. Louis in 1966 and spent 54 happy years together. They had an extensive group of wonderful friends in both Manhattan and Lyme, regularly embarked on international travel adventures and challenged each other with their opposing political views. They were a couple many people commented were a beacon of consistency, commitment and great partnership. Jeff was a doting and generous father to their daughter Marina and loving grandfather to Lila and Louisa. He relished in preserving family history and each Christmas would regale the table with stories and scandals of prior generations and was very focused, especially in his later years, on bringing extended family together to create new memories. Jeff was alternately serious and irreverent, speaking honestly about death or controversial issues one minute, and teasing the next. He was never shy about his opinions and observations, and delighted in arguing politics, business, and the arts. Jeff was quick with a smile, and always offered a calming and rational presence. We will always remember his sharp intellect, sound judgment and unwavering generosity and integrity. He will be greatly missed.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Aug. 9, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for GEOFFREY THOMPSON

Not sure what to say?





Paul Mendelson

August 4, 2023

Fun days in Central Valley.....elegy school, Little League, and when older, driving those old Fugan bread trucks. Miss you, Geoff.

Guido Nardi

August 21, 2022

Sarò per sempre grato ad una persona col cuore immenso
Guido, your friend in Rome

Guido Nardi Roma Italy

August 5, 2021

Un uomo con un cuore immenso. Il suo ricordo durante il suo soggiorno a Roma e i continui contatti nei mesi successivi rimarranno per me un ricordo indelebile ed avrò nei suoi confronti e nei confronti di Claudia una gratitudine per tutta la vita

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Paul Mendelson

Planted Trees

Claire Evans

August 25, 2020

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

August 16, 2020

I will always remember this great man
Guido Nardi- Roma Italy

Guido Nardi

August 9, 2020

Un grande uomo, conosciuto a Roma in uno dei suoi viaggi in Europa.
Uomo di una generosità enorme e discreta allo stesso tempo.
Piango la Sua scomparsa, lo ricorderò per sempre.
RIP
Guido
Your friend of Rome

Showing 1 - 7 of 7 results

Make a Donation
in GEOFFREY THOMPSON's name

Memorial Events
for GEOFFREY THOMPSON

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

How to support GEOFFREY's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor GEOFFREY THOMPSON's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more