WAYNE – It is with great sadness that we share the passing of James “Jim” Thompson, who died on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, after suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for over a decade and more recently from cancer.

Jim was born in Ticonderoga, N.Y., to T. Burke and Margaret Thompson. He attended Ticonderoga schools where he lettered in wrestling and football during his high school years. He earned an associate degree in forestry from Paul Smith’s College before enlisting in the U.S. Army and serving for two years in Korea.

After his return from Korea, he enrolled at the University of Rhode Island where he graduated with a BS in Industrial Management in 1961. While at URI he met a fellow student and his future wife, Catherine Doonan and they married in 1961. Jim then used his forestry and industrial management education to begin a 35-year career in the paper industry, starting at an International Paper mill in Corinth, N.Y., not far from hometown, finishing at an International Paper mill in Auckland, New Zealand, with assignments in IP mills in Jay, Ticonderoga N.Y., Pine Bluff, Ark., in between. Jim had two stints at IP’s Jay mill, the first time managing #3 machine and 18 years later managing the entire mill. His connections to and memories of his time in IP’s Jay mill and the people he worked with there were especially strong.

Jim was the first Eagle Scout in Ticonderoga, N.Y. and an avid hiker and skier as an adult, including time as a volunteer ski instructor at the much-loved Titcomb ski slopes. He was a U.S. history buff and a woodworker in his retirement years, with turning fine wooden objects and removing parts of his fingers his primary woodworking skills. He fished, traveled the world with his wife, Cathy, and their good friends, loved and spent time with his grandchildren – he lived as good a life as any of us can wish or hope for.

Jim leaves his wife, Catherine; his three children, Peter, Maureen, and Kate and their spouses, and partners; and 13 grand and great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his two brothers, Thomas and Michael Thompson.

Jim’s Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 6, at 9:30 a.m., in St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, 20 Lake St., Winthrop. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.

A Celebration of Jim’s life following the service at The Weathervane Restaurant in Readfield.

Arrangements are in the care of the Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop where condolences and memories may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website by visiting http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.

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