Catching up with Bob Thompson 1967
In 2006, Bob Thompson’s doctors considered him a “medical anomaly” and since that time, they have come to agree with this 1967 Hamden Hall alumnus that a higher power has been watching over him.
It was 11 years ago that Bob was diagnosed with a rare, incurable blood cancer known as Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (WM). Today, Bob says that he’s “blessed not to exhibit any of the physical symptoms routinely associated with the disease.” Bob follows no special diet, has no activity restrictions, nor takes any medicines.
“A life of prayer, faith, and service, plus the knowledge that countless numbers of people lift me up in their prayers every day all over the world sustains me,” Bob says. “I live my life without dwelling on the existence of my disease, and I’m convinced that I will die with it rather than from it when God says it’s time.”
This past October, Bob was delighted to be “back home” at his 50th Hamden Hall class reunion where he caught up with some of his closest friends and shared reflections about his life.
Bob is indeed living a full life—one that includes his marriage of 46 years to his wife, Peggy. The couple met while coeds at Ripon College in Wisconsin.
“Peggy was my college sweetheart,” Bob said. “We met while singing in the Ripon College Choir. Our first kiss was on St. Patrick’s Day in 1969, and we celebrate it every year!” The couple lives in Birmingham, Ala., and has two grown children. Melissa (aka “Doc Mel”) is a graduate of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and is one of five veterinarians in a mixed-animal practice in Oneonta, Ala. Their son, Rob, is an Auburn alumnus and works with Regions Bank. He is a corporation vice president and a Strategic Execution & Business Transformation Partner, working toward his Six Sigma black belt.
CAREER PATH
Bob’s career path, that eventually led him to Alabama, included 10 years in progressively advancing junior-to-senior healthcare administrative positions in three large teaching hospitals. This was followed by 15 years as the most senior healthcare administrative executive in three large physician-owned multi-specialty medical group practices. Next came two years as vice president of a publicly traded medical practice computer software development company. The next five years found Bob as a self-employed double-board certified pedorthist—clinically consulting on the care and treatment of the feet of diabetic patients, as well as the biomechanic/foot health care needs of non-diabetic patients. For nine years, Bob was executive director of a non-profit preventive foot healthcare educational foundation.
Bob’s education paved a path for his professional life. In 1971, he earned a Bachelor of Arts from Ripon, graduating cum laude and with honors in two majors—psychology and psychobiology. He then earned a Master of Professional Studies - Hospital and Health Services Administration from Cornell University in 1973. In 2003, he earned a Certificate in Pedorthics, Foot Pathology, and Shoe Fitting from Foot Solutions Pedorthic Training Program.
In the mix of it all, he and Peggy have hit the road! “We love to travel and have been to all seven continents together,” Bob said. “I’ve been to 45 of our United States—(I’ve got to get to the other five!)—and have been blessed to have visited 29 countries around the world.”
Bob’s also managed to keep in touch with several of his Hamden Hall classmates, especially Gary Moss and Paul Tsiotis (groomsmen in his wedding). Chuck Clark, Joe Parisi, and Thor Colberg have also remained in close contact.
Bob has fond memories of his days at Hamden Hall, recalling some practical lessons he gleaned from his service as yearbook business manager and class treasurer. “I was always pestering folks for their advertising payments or class dues—hustling them to pay up instead of buying an ice cream sandwich or using their money in The Cabin—the restricted senior class hangout. I credit those service and leadership experiences with giving me the thick skin and resilience to work with anyone and everyone throughout my professional career without ever taking criticisms too personally, and learning how to turn such things most often into positive conclusions instead of defeating tragedies.”
That philosophy has served Bob well, as he has found “amazing personal gratification” from his work.
Bob also finds fulfillment in his spiritual life. For the past 11 years, he and Peggy have been studying the Bible at the Riverchase United Methodist Church in Hoover. And for the past 17 years, Bob has also been a member of the church’s sanctuary choir.
He and Peggy also enjoy hobbies such as golf, cheering on the Auburn Tigers football team, and delivering Meals on Wheels. Bob’s one solo adventure—he was an active scuba diver from 1989 to 2000 and served on the Rotary International Fellowship of Rotarian Scuba Divers. He enjoyed diving all over the world—Turks and Caicos Islands, Belize, Saba, Fiji, Palau, Belize, the Red Sea, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
A sunny life, as Bob won’t let a dark cloud in. “I consider myself one of the Lord’s living miracles,” he said, adding he has been blessed with love and joy, peace and happiness.
Hamden Hall Country Day School
1108 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
Hamden, Connecticut 06517
Phone: 203-752-2600
Fax: 203-752-2651
admissions@hamdenhall.org
About Us
Hamden Hall Country Day School, located less than two miles from Yale University, is one of the best private schools in Connecticut to enroll elementary, middle, and high school students. Our nurturing and inclusive community provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.
