Matthew Gilmour Thompson

1942 - 2025

Matthew Gilmour Thompson

June 3, 1942 - September 24, 2025

Matthew Gilmour Thompson, 83, died on September 24, 2025. Born in Richmond on June 3, 1942, to Madeline Waller and Edward Thompson.

Matt is survived by Janet Herring Thompson, his wife of 64 years; sons, Matthew G. Thompson, Jr. (Nancy) and Carter P. Thompson (Chase); and a daughter, Douglas Donnan Thompson O'Keefe (Stewart); his brother, Edward Hunter Thompson, Jr. (Nell); and sister, Roberta Thompson Garnett of Elmwood in Essex County also survive him; along with seven beloved grandchildren, Matthew (Anne Sims), Tucker (Gloria), and Giles Thompson, Liza Highfill (Sean) and Rollins Thompson, Belle and Jay O'Keefe; and three great-grandchildren, Moore and Hayes Thompson and Ramsey Highfill.

A 1960 graduate of St. Christopher's School, Matt embraced life at a fast clip. He married his childhood sweetheart Janet at age twenty. At Washington and Lee University he navigated marriage and fatherhood, joined Kappa Alpha fraternity, and was inducted into W&L's Cadaver Society. Four years after earning an MBA at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 1966, he co-founded Richmond's first independent investment advisory, laying the foundation for a remarkable life while still in his twenties.

Through his example, he blessed his family with life, love, guidance, support while embracing his many passions, from fishing to bird hunting with his beloved English Setters, to golf, to refurbishing houses both in Richmond and Boca Grande, Florida. He took particular pride in developing his wild quail preserve at Spring Grove farm in Surry, Va.

Matt's career began at Craigie, Inc, in investment research and sales. Three years later, he partnered with fellow St. Christopher's alums Jack Siegel and Pierce Walmsley to co-found Thompson, Siegel and Walmsley. With a modest pool of capital raised from family and friends TS&W launched as the U.S. financial markets entered an historic five-year downturn.

Despite this inauspicious start, Matt guided the firm's growth through ever-changing markets. Upon his 2012 retirement as Chairman Emeritus, TS&W clients included institutional and individual investors in the U.S. and abroad, its modest pool of startup funds now reaching billions. In 2018, he was inducted into the Richmond Business Hall of Fame.

During his life Matt was an active leader in many organizations and gave generously to his community, serving on the boards of the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges, the Richmond Ballet, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, the Steward School, Washington & Lee University, the University of Virginia Investment Management Company, the Massey Cancer Center Advisory Board, The Island School and, for nearly two decades, the St. Christopher's School Board of Governors and Foundation Board.

Matt was also a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, The Country Club of Virginia, the Commonwealth Club, Custis Pond, the Cousiac Club, and the Richmond German.

The family thanks Kevin Terrell and Irma Monette for their daily guidance and support. After a private burial, a memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 14, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Richmond. A livestream of the service will be available at www.ststephensR-VA.org/memorial-stream.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions in Matt's memory may donate to St. Christopher's School or St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.