Missing Joe

Editor's Note:  Cranky Neighbors co-founder Joseph E. Thompson died on Sunday, June 17.  His voice lives on here, and the blog will stay up in his honor for a long time to come.  We hope his friends will feel free to add a comment (below) or write us here at  crankyneighbors@rcn.com to share their thoughts and memories of Joe.  Here, courtesy of his partner Tony is his obit:

Joe Thompson, 56
City Activist, Entrepreneur, Writer

Uncle Joe’s Kids for the Arts Memorial Fund To Be Established in his Honor

Joseph E. Thompson died June 17, 2007 after a two-year battle with brain cancer.

Joe moved to Somerville in 1994, quickly establishing deep roots in a city he said reminded him of his childhood hometown of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He and his partner Tony Membrino carefully restored one of Prospect Hill’s oldest homes and were honored for their efforts with a city historic preservation award in 1999.

After a 15-year stint as an executive in the air cargo business, Joe transformed his professional career in 1999 by opening Fi-Dough, the area’s first specialty pet bakery and boutique. He continued to operate the business long after the onset of his illness, finally closing it in March 2007.

In the final decade of his life, he was an energetic volunteer for numerous Somerville organizations and causes. His wit, influence, and his always unvarnished advice earned him respect and recognition throughout the city.  His frequent advocacy of a balanced and strategic development policy ultimately won him a seat on the Somerville Redevelopment Authority, where he served from 2004 until his death. In one of many letters to the editor published by local newspapers, he wrote in 1998 in the Somerville Journal that “We must not accept just any development because the leadership is too timid or too accustomed to surviving on less to insist on better.”

He was an active and influential member of Union Square Task Force and Somerville Old House Organization, and was one of the founding members of the Union Square Main Streets, where he served on the board of directors.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, who appointed Joe to the Redevelopment Authority, said that the city had lost “one of its best and most committed public citizens.”

“This is a sad day.  I knew and admired Joe for many years as a friend and neighbor,” said Mayor Curtatone. “He was the best kind of public citizen: totally engaged and totally fearless.  He kept all of us on our toes all the time, and the city is a better place because he lived here.  A lot of people will miss Joe Thompson – and I’m one of them.”

An early and enthusiastic backer of Deval Patrick in the 2006 governor’s race, Joe played a key role in introducing Patrick to Somerville and helping him win endorsements from local officials and party leaders. 

Joe Thompson was passionate about writing and debating about politics and public policy. In addition to his appearances in the pages of the local press, he spoke up often and persuasively at public meetings. Beginning in October 2004, Joe began sharing his views on the web in the Cranky Neighbors blog (www.crankyneighbors.com) he co-founded with neighbor Tom Champion.  In a biographical note on the site, Joe described himself as “an independent, iconoclastic thinker who regards Republicans, Democrats, the rich, the poor, and all sloppy thinkers (roughly 90 percent of the population) with equal degrees of contempt, disdain and amusement. He believes that anything worth saying is going to offend somebody, so get used to it. In fact, learn to enjoy it.” “He never backed down from a good debate,” said Tony Membrino, his partner.

Having himself been introduced to the arts at an early age Joe also understood the transformational power of classical music and theater. He cultivated a thorough knowledge of both genres and was always introducing people to his favorites. Many of his friends and family have Joe to thank for their heightened cultural awareness and appreciation. Of his favorite composer, Joe was fond of saying, “There is no life without Mahler.”

In July, 2005 Joe was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer; doctors told him he had only six months to live.  He made few concessions to his illness, reminding friends of his oft-sated view that “life was for living and that there would be plenty of time to sleep when I’m dead.” Five days after extensive brain surgery, Joe was standing at an altar as best man at his friend’s wedding and dancing that evening with his Mom. Not only did Joe outlive his diagnosis with the help of many people, he inspired everyone he interacted with to live life to its fullest, or, to use a quote Joe often cited from the film Auntie Mame: “Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!”

Joe is survived by his mother Rose M. Thompson, his partner Tony Membrino, two sisters; Mrs. Rosemarie (Thompson) Powers of Yarmouth, ME and Mrs. Judith (Thompson) Heerlein of Hamilton, MA, three brothers; John M. Thompson of Cumberland, RI, Malcolm E. Thompson of Pawtucket, RI and George R. Thompson of San Rafael, CA. He was an uncle to seven nieces and one nephew.

His wake will be held on Wednesday, June 20 from the Manning-Heffern Funeral Home on 68 Broadway in Pawtucket, RI. Visiting hours will be 2- p.m. and 7-9 p.m.  Funeral services will commence at the funeral home at 10 a.m. on Thursday June 21, with an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian burial at St. Joseph Church at 193 Walcott St. Pawtucket, RI and interment at Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery on Prospect St. Pawtucket. 

A private celebration of life to honor Joe will be held in Somerville soon after the funeral.

His family and friends plan to find a way to Joe’s life-changing experience with music and theater passed on to Somerville children who otherwise might not ever attend a classical performance, musical, or play. A fund has been established in Joe Thompson’s name that will be used to facilitate these activities. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Uncle Joe's Kids for the Arts
P.O. Box 9111
342 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02145

Here are some of Joe’s favorite cultural activities that transformed and shaped his life…See what they can do for you.

Favorite Composers:
Gustav Mahler “There is no life without Mahler” Symphony # 2 and #8
Stephen Sondheim
Beethoven
Shostakovich

Favorite Movies:
The Lion in Winter
Auntie Mame
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harold and Maude
Peter Pan (original stage version)
Dumbo
A Christmas Carol (with Alistair Sim, 1951)

Favorite Authors:
Eugene O’Neil
Shakespeare

Favorite Books:
Common Ground
The Master and Margherita
Dr. Ferris Sermons (Trinity Church)

Favorite Plays and Musicals:
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
The Iceman Cometh
Wicked
Rent
Into The Woods
A Chorus Line
Showboat

Favorite TV shows:
St. Elsewhere
The West Wing
Ugly Betty
Grey’s Anatomy

Comments

[patty murphy becker]

I went with Joe to my Junior prom back in RI in 1966. He was a witty,sarcastic, funny young man even back then. I will always remember him as a boy "filled with Life"