Scott Benepe Thompson

Scott Benepe Thompson, a treasured husband, son, brother, craftsman, and friend to many, passed away on December 19, 2024, after almost exactly a year facing terminal cancer, living exuberantly throughout that time. His family and friends are grateful to McClure Miller Respite House and their exceptional staff and volunteers, who made him comfortable and peaceful in his final hours. Scott was surrounded by many friends, family, and his beloved wife, Amy.
Scott spent nearly his entire life in New England, and felt very much at home among its woods and lakes. Born August 7, 1985, in Providence, RI, to Jean Follett-Thompson and Doug Thompson, he spent his childhood in Connecticut and Maine before moving to Chicago, home to many family members as well as a family business, Follett Corporation.
His high school years brought Scott to Maine to attend Kents Hill School, where he played Snoopy in the school production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and established the community-building practices that would come to define the rest of his life. He matriculated at Champlain College, where he established many enduring friendships and began his twenty-year residence in Burlington.
Whether through his role in founding Unknown Arts, a well-regarded screen printing studio, his enthusiastic patronage of local artists and tradespeople, or his unforgettable personal style, featuring colorful overalls, tie-dye shirts, and whimsical eyeglasses, Scott was a fixture in Burlington. Scott loved to visit antique stores, Art Hop, The Lamp Shop, Barge Canal, and Gardeners Supply, sometimes just to browse and gain artistic inspiration. He took great pride in his Redstone Quarry neighborhood house, creating a warm, inviting, well-maintained home that served as a gathering place for a large circle of friends. Scott hosted many theme dinners, Friendsgivings, Magic the Gathering games, and "noodles and cards" weeknights. His home was a safe and comfortable space for friends to drop in, and they would always receive hugs, sumptuous meals, charmingly bizarre liquor options, and Scott's kind, easy company.
In May 2021, his already-full life was expanded with the introduction of the woman who would become his wife, Amy Schiller. Their fate was sealed the moment they agreed to have their first date at St. John's Club. Scott introduced Amy to his "happy place," a family cottage in Shady Nook, Maine, and together they discovered new joys in Brooklyn, Montreal, and Chautauqua, New York. Their partnership led to great creative achievements, including certifications for Scott from Yestermorrow Design Build School in Waitsfield. He had hoped to launch a woodworking and furniture building business. Together Scott and Amy began creating a shared home, enjoying fall afternoon bike rides, leisurely brunches and Vermont Symphony Orchestra concerts. They found a Jewish community at Temple Sinai, and experienced great happiness in joining families and social circles. Their beautiful relationship, full of art, laughter, inappropriate humor and deep honesty, culminated in their splendid elopement to Key West, FL on January 22, 2024.
Scott's generosity and lightheartedness, as well as his ability to just "be," to enjoy peace, stillness and contentment were models for everyone whose life was touched by his. He lived with irrepressible curiosity, creativity, zest for life, and receptiveness. He loved nature, the arts, animals, friendship, witty conversation and warm lengthy hugs. All of this made him a consistent source of joy and a person who always made people feel safe and loved for just who they were, with brighter spirits after just a moment in his company.
Scott is survived by his loving wife, Dr. Amy Schiller, his parents, Dr. Jean Follett-Thompson and Doug Thompson, brother Nat Thompson, and grandfather Robert Follett. He is also survived by uncles Don (Mel) Thompson, Jeff (Cindy) Thompson, and Brian (Mindy) Follett; aunts Kathryn (David) Bussman and Lisa (Don) Gardner; cousins Christy, Whitney, Steven, Karen, Julianne, Susan, Dwight, Andrew, Max, and Ben and their spouses and partners; his mother and father-in-law, Judith and Dr. Richard Schiller, brother-in-law, Sam Schiller, sisters-in-law Tina Thompson and Rebecca Stevens, nephews Aiken and Ben Thompson and Theo Schiller. He is also missed by his canine friends, Brekka, Ducky, Olsen, and Maisie.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Burlington on May 4, 2025, more details to follow. The family respectfully requests donations be made to Vermont Symphony Orchestra and the Vermont Food Bank, in honor of Scott's devotion to his local community, to beauty, and to feeding the body and soul.