Stephen Lynn THOMPSON

1953 - 2018

THOMPSON, Stephen Lynn On Monday, November 5, 2018, Stephen Lynn Thompson passed away at age 65 on Ambergris Caye, Belize. He leaves behind two daughters, one brother, one niece, one dog, two turtles, a houseful of termites, the occasional rat, and over 2000 books. Steve was born on July 5, 1953, to Sue and Burton Thompson, of West Palm Beach. After graduating Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach, he set off to Europe travelling around France and Scandinavia, eventually falling in love with Sweden, a place that he held dear to his heart ever since. He studied medieval history at Emory University and graduated Juris Doctor of Law at Emory class of 1979. During his time working in Atlanta, he met Laura, his wife of 15 years. They raised their daughters, Ellie and Emily, in Atlanta until Stephen could no longer ignore his dream to build mahogany sailboats. So, in 1996 they moved to Belize. In Belize, Steve built many innovative and impressive boats including two catamarans made out of recycled materials and a 50' wooden mono-hull, which he sailed around the coast of Belize with his daughters. He resumed his law practice where he worked with clients all over the world. He loved fishing and became the local president of the International Game Fishing Association where he worked really hard to get Ellie and Emily world records (of which the girls had no interest). In the years following he successfully raised Ellie and Emily through Belizean schools and encouraged them to go to great colleges in the U.S. He was known around Belize for his generosity and willingness to talk to anyone, so long as they had something good to say. He had a magnificent orchid garden, and an affinity for tomato plants. If he wasn't watching Monty Python, or Black Adder, you could be sure to find him at his favorite haunt in the corner quietly reading stories by John Mortimer or Mark Twain. He was quick to laugh at the idiosyncrasies of Belize that would drive a lesser man mad. He shook it off with a "This is Belize". He had friends who loved him (and sometimes hated him) all around the world. He was a true Renaissance man and those who knew him won't soon forget him. There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, December 1 at Family Church Fellowship Hall, 1101 S. Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach, at 10:00AM.