Passing of Paul Thompson
January 7, 2015
With great sadness I have to tell that another friend and corps member is no longer with us. We have just learned that Paul Thompson has passed away.
Paul began his connection with the Optimists in 1963 working with his father at the Optimists booster table. In 1964 he joined the corps playing Euphonium and, from 1965 until 1969, Paul played Contrabass. After aging out Paul continued working with the corps as an instructor and, at times, took on the role of drum major. Paul and Ray Roussel even wrote a Bugle Manual that was used, not just by the Optimists, but by a number of other corps. In addition, Paul was one of the architects of the 1972 corps which won Optimists 12th Nationals.
When the Alumni corps began Paul was there, doing his best to help out. He assisted with the music, ran the Thursday night music rehearsals until they were cancelled, obtained the rights for us to play our music and, until health issues forced him to stop, played contrabass.
Paul will be missed by all of those who knew him.
Obituary
THOMPSON, Paul Newman - Age 66 of Toronto, passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital, January 6, 2015 after an 8 year battle with cancer. Paul was born in Toronto February 16, 1948 to Bernard and Elizabeth Thompson (nee Balfour). Brother of the late Bernadette Stolte and twin sister Bernardine, Stephanie Keat Brenner and Leo. He will be sadly missed by his nephew Jason Patrick Keat, niece Christine Stotle Eliadas and great-niece Alexandra and nephew Robbie. A graduate of St. Michael's College School and Teachers College, Paul was also a member of the Toronto Optimists Drum and Bugle Corps. In addition to marching with the Optimists he served as an instructor and arranger for the corps. Paul believed in higher education and the goodness of everyone. He donated his body to science for the good of others.
Celebration of Life
A Celebration of Paul's Life will be scheduled for the spring. It will be held at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344 on Lakeshore Road in Toronto.