James A. Thompson
James A. Thompson of Stratford, CT passed away January 12, 2023 following three-plus years of cancer treatment. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on May 5, 1933 to the late Leonard and Juliette (Sirvent) Thompson, Jim traveled the world as a child and ended up speaking five languages. He was a U.S. Army veteran and attended St. Francis College in Pennsylvania. For more than half a century Jim was a TV-Radio Broadcaster/News Director and known as "The Voice of Greenwich" before retiring. He had been on the air at WTIC-AM-FM-TV in Hartford, CT as the evening sports anchor and hosted the children's show, "The Ranger Station" in Hartford and at Cablevision of Connecticut's Channel 12 News as they began operations in Norwalk. With his passion for music Jim created and hosted a program called "Mario Lanza and Friends" where he invited singers from the Metropolitan Opera and various celebrities to co-host. His beautiful baritone voice was not only easy to listen to for news and interviews but he also sang for President Nixon and was featured on the "Ed Sullivan Show" after winning the "All Army Entertainment Contest" for best vocals. Jim is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 35 years Dima Joseph-Thompson. He is also survived by his four children, James Thompson and his wife Carol of Florida, Colleen Wasicko and her husband Michael of Maryland, Leonard Thompson of Connecticut and Tiffany Antista and her husband Ryan of California, six cherished grandchildren, Jimmy Lee Thompson (Kasey), Kimberly Grandzol (Rich), Natalie, Michael, Melissa and Katie Wasicko as well as two great-grandchildren, Rowan and Eleanor Grandzol. Jim has had a strong faith-based life journey and will be remembered at a Christian Mass celebration expected in late Spring at St. Mark Church in Stratford. The Adzima Funeral Home in Stratford has been entrusted with arrangements. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Impact the lives of St. Jude kids - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org) or the Connecticut Humane Society Home – Connecticut Humane Society ( cthumane.org ). For more information or to make an online condolence please visit www.adzimafuneralhome.com

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Published by Connecticut Post & Greenwich Time on Jan. 14, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for James Thompson

Sponsored by Adzima Funeral Home - Stratford.

12 Entries

Sheila & George

April 6, 2024

Just discovered Jim´s passing. We are so sorry to hear it. He was one in a million - and working with him was a memorable experience. Always learned something new. Thinking of Dima and his entire family.
With love,
Sheila & George

Sarah A.

January 8, 2024

Hi Dima - on Jim's first anniversary in heaven, I want you to know all his friends and fans think about him and miss him. He always had an uplifting comment on my FB page and I miss that too. I hope you're doing ok.

Helmut and Susan Klee

March 7, 2023

Helmut and Susan Klee

March 7, 2023

HELMUT KLEE

March 7, 2023

Susan and Helmut Klee

March 7, 2023

Dear Dima, your wonderful husband James Thompson will remind always in our love and prayers together with you, wonderful wife of an awesome, grande Person, the great James Thompson. We will never, ever forget our unforgettable times together with you both and thank you both for the great, loveable memories, will stay alwayes in our hearts!! With all our love and prayers, Susan and Helmut Klee from Cologne, Germany <3

Peter Elikann

January 20, 2023

Someone once described Jim Thompson to me as "the ultimate gentleman" and they were right. When we worked together at News 12 television, most of us were in our 20s and he was turning 50. As someone who already had a mountain of experience in broadcasting who then found himself working with a bunch of we inexperienced kids, he was so complimentary and encouraging to the rest of us when another news veteran might possibly have been condescending. He was always so kind, thoughtful and considerate with such an old-school polite courtly manner. Indelibly etched in my brain is how he would walk over to me after seeing a piece I had reported on just after it had aired and taking the time to bowl me over with praise. And boy, did he have the work ethic - at the time, he basically had two full time jobs as he was on-air at the radio station in Greenwich from the crack of dawn and then would head to News 12 doing the talk show at mid-day and then the weather at night. And that wonderfully mellifluous baritone voice!

Sarah Arnold

January 16, 2023

Dima I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. I will always remember our early mornings together at WGCH. Jim was miraculously wide awake and in a good mood! He was a good friend and mentor at News 12 and he had the most wonderful, boisterous laugh. That's what I will remember most.

Peter J. Tesei, 2007-2019 Greenwich First Selectman

January 15, 2023

Dear Dima,

Our condolences on Jim's passing. During my childhood growing up in Greenwich, I recall listening to Jim on WGCH covering all things Greenwich. He announced all the "snow days" promptly at 6AM. In my later years as I became involved in public service I recall Jim interviewed me and put me at ease as I did my first live on air interviews. He was a legendary newsman and pursued the facts without prejudice. We need more Jim Thompsons in our news media. A Greenwich icon with a beaming smile and baritone voice kept Greenwich and our broader geographic area well informed.

God Bless you Jim Thompson - "the voice of Greenwich"

Randy Place

January 15, 2023

My wife and I were shocked and saddened to learn from Dima that our good friend had passed. I'm so grateful for my long friendship with Jim that began over 65 years ago and included Dima some years later. Recalling memories about the part of life I was honored to share with them both brings much gratitude to this heavy heart. Rest In Peace, Jim.

DAVE ROBBINS

January 15, 2023

Remember Jim from his days in Greenwich. He was highly regarded by all who knew him and was "the Voice of WGCH'. He will be sorely missed but fondly remembered

Rocco L. Forte

January 14, 2023

What a sad day for the family and his friends. I knew Jim from Hartford TV and radio. Jim worked at WTIC and I worked for WHCT channel 18. He was very helpful in my broadcasting career. We became involved again when I purchased WGCH Radio Greenwich. He helped me with information about the stations and the community. I will miss him immensely.

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