SYLVIA THOMPSON

1929 - 2018

THOMPSON--Sylvia.

Sylvia Angevin Thompson, born March 12, 1929, died April 20, 2018 at home surrounded by family and friends, trees and birds. An artist, Sylvia was gifted with a visceral connection to nature and pattern. She was an extraordinary colorist with a beautiful line, and her paintings convey her great pleasure in the everyday world. She showed with the Deerpath Art League in Lake Forest, IL, among others. Born in Glendale, OH, to Ferris and Marion Angevin, and with a lifelong connection to Martha's Vineyard, Sylvia attended Sarah Lawrence, and in 1949 married William Rentschler. She raised four children in Lake Forest, where she forged lifelong friendships and was an avid tennis player, swimmer, and photographer. In 1970, Sylvia eloped to Morocco with George Thompson, on a lunch break from his Chicago law firm. They moved to a cattle and grain farm in Geneva, IL, a haven for a merged and growing family where Sylvia tended enormous gardens, foraged, and pulled calves while about to have a baby herself. A phenomenal cook, she became an early proponent of nutrition through whole foods. Often seen in blue-and-white stripes, a bandana, and army jacket, Sylvia was strong-willed, and brave through a series of late physical traumas, navigating extreme change with grace and humor. Sylvia loved people. She expected and usually found the best in them, gathering everyone in her life together with great food, style, and generosity of spirit. Sylvia is predeceased by her parents, a daughter, and two husbands, and is survived by many branches and generations of family who will miss her greatly. Celebration May 12th, Grange Hall, West Tisbury, MA, 1-3pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions to The MV Center for Living, Edgartown, MA.