PORTLAND – The legacy of a young Saco boy who made headlines around the world in the months before his untimely death last year will live on in a bench at a beloved Portland playground.

It’s been nearly a year since 9-year-old Jacob Thompson died on Nov. 19, 2017 of neuroblastoma cancer, a rare form of cancer he lived with for four years.

Knowing he would likely not live to see Christmas in 2017, Jacob’s family planned an early Christmas celebration on Nov. 12 at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital.

The family’s request for Christmas cards for Jacob went viral, and Jacob received tens of thousands of cards from around the world and many holiday greetings online. Among those who sent Jacob cards were Mark Hamill, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Kraft.

Jacob loved the penguins and the color orange and according to his obituary was always accompanied by his stuffed penguin plush toys and an orange blanket.

According to a statement from his family, Jacob enjoyed visiting the playground at the Eastern Promanade in Portland and the family has many special memories from time spent at the place Jacob called the “playground by the water.”

The Munjoy Hill Fire Station and Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization have partnered with Jacob’s family to dedicate a bench to Jacob at the Eastern Promenade playground.

A special dedication ceremony will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Eastern Promenade playground and the public is invited to join in the celebration.

“Jacob will always have a special place at his ‘playground by the water,’ with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. Somewhere, many, many miles away, the penguins are swimming in that very ocean,” Jacob’s family wrote in a Facebook post earlier this week.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 780-9015 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

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