LONGMONT, Colo. – Roy Edward Thompson, Jr. passed away June 2,2023 in Longmont Colo., after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on March 24, 1944 in Boston, the son of Ruth Ernestine Pearce Thompson and Roy Edward Thompson and grew up in Massachusetts and Maine.

His education began in a one room schoolhouse in Douglas Hill, Maine. Later he graduated in 1963 from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and Yale University, in 1967. He served as an engineering officer on the Destroyer USS Charles H. Rohn in the Mediterranean during the Vietnam war.

After his service, Roy earned a law degree from Boston College Law School.

He re-united with his future wife, Pamela Sibley, with whom he had worked previously at the Narragansett Hotel. They married in 1972, and moved to Houlton, Maine where Roy became a partner in the law office of Forrest Barnes. Forest was a great mentor to Roy and they became lifelong friends.

During his Kennebunkport years, he served on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, was a recruiter for Lawrenceville School, and volunteered with a local theater group.

Throughout over 40 years of trial work in State and Federal Courts, Roy represented design professionals, including architects, engineers, and surveyors, against claims of professional negligence. He tried cases throughout the State and Federal Court system and was involved in litigation in the U.S. and in Europe. Roy was respected as a preeminent construction law attorney.

More importantly, Roy served as a mentor, trusted colleague, and wise counselor to the various attorneys who have worked with the Thompson & Bowie firms over the years. At a time when women were not well represented in the legal profession, Roy took time to make everyone feel included and valued. He was looked up to by new associates within his firm and long-term practitioners with other firms alike.

After Roy retired from his law career, he relocated to the Portland area, where he met Susan Adams; they were married in 2006. Sue, a deep University of Michigan fan, brought a whole new level of sports appreciation to Roy. They quickly raised the Michigan flag in their East Boothbay home.

Roy was active in athletics throughout his life. In high school he played baseball and football. He teamed with his brother Arthur on the last unbeaten and untied Lawrenceville School football team in 1963. At Yale he played offensive end on the varsity football team. But no team sport was more important to Roy than the Porpoise Point Allstar Softball Team!

He was a passionate reader and loved a lively discussion about politics. He will be remembered for his sharp intellect, strong moral compass, and sense of humor. Roy’s partner Jim Bowie of had this to say:

“I knew Roy even longer than I have been admitted to the Bar. Roy was not only a great construction lawyer, who tried a number of high profile cases, but on a more personal level, he was a mentor, a leader, a colleague, and most of all a friend. He will be greatly missed.”

He was predeceased by sister Wendy Sue Morton. Roy is survived by his loving and caring wife of 18 years Susan Adams Thompson; four grandchildren; his sister, Carol Bajen-Gahm, brother, Arthur Pearce Thompson; many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; and his collie dog, Brady.

View the full obituary and share memories, photographs and expressions of sympathy at memorialsource.com/memorial/roy-edward-thompson.

The family requests,

donations in his memory can be made to the:

Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter at

alz.org/maine

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