Thompson, Robert J. (1937-2006) — also known as Bob Thompson — of West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pa. Born in West Chester, Chester County, Pa. Son of Joseph H. Thompson and Winifred Thompson; married to Nancy Blackman. Photographer; Chester County Commissioner, 1979-86; member of Pennsylvania state senate 19th District, 1995-2006; died in office 2006. Presbyterian. Member, Rotary. Died, from complications of pulmonary fibrosis, at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa., January 26, 2006
His obituary-
Robert J. Thompson: Friends and family gather at memorial for state senator: February 5, 2006
Tributes from friends and colleagues to the late State Sen. Robert J. Thompson of Chester County flowed as easily as the tears yesterday during a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in his hometown of West Chester.
A delegation of 26 senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R., Blair), joined the crowd of mourners that filled the historic church to capacity. Thompson, majority chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, died Jan. 28 from pulmonary fibrosis.
Jubelirer said with a voice that often broke that Thompson, 68, a friend since their undergraduate days at Pennsylvania State University, was a man who was not swayed by the trappings of power, nor did he lose sight of his mission as a public servant.
"In a political world filled with rabble-rousers and troublemakers, he was a peacemaker," Jubelirer said. "In a political world filled with stuffed shirts, he had the confidence to wear Snoopy neckties and red suspenders."
Jubelirer and others spoke of Thompson's integrity, decency, commitment to family and community, and a notorious sense of humor that never failed to lighten the dark moments.
Thompson, a former photographer for the Evening Bulletin, enjoyed a career in politics that spanned 30 years. He was a West Goshen Township supervisor, a Chester County commissioner, and a founding director of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, he ran his first race for the state Senate and was reelected to his seat two years ago.
During his political career, he became a nationally recognized advocate for the rights of citizens with mental illness who get caught up in the criminal justice system.
Calling him a political mentor despite the 16 years' difference in their ages, State Rep. Elinor Z. Taylor (R., Chester), 84, said that in his younger years, Thompson with his sideburns resembled Elvis Presley.
"I thought he was a a handsome young man," she said to laughter.
Longtime friend Howard Stevens shared stories of vacation trips, cooking tips from Thompson, and some of his final e-mails and notes to friends and colleagues sent from the hospital the day before he died. "He always liked to get the last word in," Stevens said.
Thompson was buried Friday morning during a private ceremony at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester. Gov. Rendell was among the 1,800 friends and colleagues who paid their respects during visitation later in the day.
He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 45 years, daughters Amy Cacchio and Melissa Fry, a sister, a brother, and four grandchildren. A son, Andrew, died 20 years ago.
His obituary-
Robert J. Thompson: Friends and family gather at memorial for state senator: February 5, 2006
Tributes from friends and colleagues to the late State Sen. Robert J. Thompson of Chester County flowed as easily as the tears yesterday during a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in his hometown of West Chester.
A delegation of 26 senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R., Blair), joined the crowd of mourners that filled the historic church to capacity. Thompson, majority chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, died Jan. 28 from pulmonary fibrosis.
Jubelirer said with a voice that often broke that Thompson, 68, a friend since their undergraduate days at Pennsylvania State University, was a man who was not swayed by the trappings of power, nor did he lose sight of his mission as a public servant.
"In a political world filled with rabble-rousers and troublemakers, he was a peacemaker," Jubelirer said. "In a political world filled with stuffed shirts, he had the confidence to wear Snoopy neckties and red suspenders."
Jubelirer and others spoke of Thompson's integrity, decency, commitment to family and community, and a notorious sense of humor that never failed to lighten the dark moments.
Thompson, a former photographer for the Evening Bulletin, enjoyed a career in politics that spanned 30 years. He was a West Goshen Township supervisor, a Chester County commissioner, and a founding director of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, he ran his first race for the state Senate and was reelected to his seat two years ago.
During his political career, he became a nationally recognized advocate for the rights of citizens with mental illness who get caught up in the criminal justice system.
Calling him a political mentor despite the 16 years' difference in their ages, State Rep. Elinor Z. Taylor (R., Chester), 84, said that in his younger years, Thompson with his sideburns resembled Elvis Presley.
"I thought he was a a handsome young man," she said to laughter.
Longtime friend Howard Stevens shared stories of vacation trips, cooking tips from Thompson, and some of his final e-mails and notes to friends and colleagues sent from the hospital the day before he died. "He always liked to get the last word in," Stevens said.
Thompson was buried Friday morning during a private ceremony at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester. Gov. Rendell was among the 1,800 friends and colleagues who paid their respects during visitation later in the day.
He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 45 years, daughters Amy Cacchio and Melissa Fry, a sister, a brother, and four grandchildren. A son, Andrew, died 20 years ago.
Thompson, Robert J. (1937-2006) — also known as Bob Thompson — of West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pa. Born in West Chester, Chester County, Pa. Son of Joseph H. Thompson and Winifred Thompson; married to Nancy Blackman. Photographer; Chester County Commissioner, 1979-86; member of Pennsylvania state senate 19th District, 1995-2006; died in office 2006. Presbyterian. Member, Rotary. Died, from complications of pulmonary fibrosis, at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa., January 26, 2006
His obituary-
Robert J. Thompson: Friends and family gather at memorial for state senator: February 5, 2006
Tributes from friends and colleagues to the late State Sen. Robert J. Thompson of Chester County flowed as easily as the tears yesterday during a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in his hometown of West Chester.
A delegation of 26 senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R., Blair), joined the crowd of mourners that filled the historic church to capacity. Thompson, majority chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, died Jan. 28 from pulmonary fibrosis.
Jubelirer said with a voice that often broke that Thompson, 68, a friend since their undergraduate days at Pennsylvania State University, was a man who was not swayed by the trappings of power, nor did he lose sight of his mission as a public servant.
"In a political world filled with rabble-rousers and troublemakers, he was a peacemaker," Jubelirer said. "In a political world filled with stuffed shirts, he had the confidence to wear Snoopy neckties and red suspenders."
Jubelirer and others spoke of Thompson's integrity, decency, commitment to family and community, and a notorious sense of humor that never failed to lighten the dark moments.
Thompson, a former photographer for the Evening Bulletin, enjoyed a career in politics that spanned 30 years. He was a West Goshen Township supervisor, a Chester County commissioner, and a founding director of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, he ran his first race for the state Senate and was reelected to his seat two years ago.
During his political career, he became a nationally recognized advocate for the rights of citizens with mental illness who get caught up in the criminal justice system.
Calling him a political mentor despite the 16 years' difference in their ages, State Rep. Elinor Z. Taylor (R., Chester), 84, said that in his younger years, Thompson with his sideburns resembled Elvis Presley.
"I thought he was a a handsome young man," she said to laughter.
Longtime friend Howard Stevens shared stories of vacation trips, cooking tips from Thompson, and some of his final e-mails and notes to friends and colleagues sent from the hospital the day before he died. "He always liked to get the last word in," Stevens said.
Thompson was buried Friday morning during a private ceremony at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester. Gov. Rendell was among the 1,800 friends and colleagues who paid their respects during visitation later in the day.
He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 45 years, daughters Amy Cacchio and Melissa Fry, a sister, a brother, and four grandchildren. A son, Andrew, died 20 years ago.
His obituary-
Robert J. Thompson: Friends and family gather at memorial for state senator: February 5, 2006
Tributes from friends and colleagues to the late State Sen. Robert J. Thompson of Chester County flowed as easily as the tears yesterday during a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in his hometown of West Chester.
A delegation of 26 senators, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer (R., Blair), joined the crowd of mourners that filled the historic church to capacity. Thompson, majority chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, died Jan. 28 from pulmonary fibrosis.
Jubelirer said with a voice that often broke that Thompson, 68, a friend since their undergraduate days at Pennsylvania State University, was a man who was not swayed by the trappings of power, nor did he lose sight of his mission as a public servant.
"In a political world filled with rabble-rousers and troublemakers, he was a peacemaker," Jubelirer said. "In a political world filled with stuffed shirts, he had the confidence to wear Snoopy neckties and red suspenders."
Jubelirer and others spoke of Thompson's integrity, decency, commitment to family and community, and a notorious sense of humor that never failed to lighten the dark moments.
Thompson, a former photographer for the Evening Bulletin, enjoyed a career in politics that spanned 30 years. He was a West Goshen Township supervisor, a Chester County commissioner, and a founding director of the Chester County Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, he ran his first race for the state Senate and was reelected to his seat two years ago.
During his political career, he became a nationally recognized advocate for the rights of citizens with mental illness who get caught up in the criminal justice system.
Calling him a political mentor despite the 16 years' difference in their ages, State Rep. Elinor Z. Taylor (R., Chester), 84, said that in his younger years, Thompson with his sideburns resembled Elvis Presley.
"I thought he was a a handsome young man," she said to laughter.
Longtime friend Howard Stevens shared stories of vacation trips, cooking tips from Thompson, and some of his final e-mails and notes to friends and colleagues sent from the hospital the day before he died. "He always liked to get the last word in," Stevens said.
Thompson was buried Friday morning during a private ceremony at Oaklands Cemetery in West Chester. Gov. Rendell was among the 1,800 friends and colleagues who paid their respects during visitation later in the day.
He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 45 years, daughters Amy Cacchio and Melissa Fry, a sister, a brother, and four grandchildren. A son, Andrew, died 20 years ago.
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Gravesite Details
Robert shares a gravesite and marker with his wife (living).
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