Long time Mattapoisett, Mass. Resident Roger Thompson died Sunday, March 15, four days after his 89th birthday.
He had suffered from a number of health complications over the last year.
Mr. Thompson was the husband of the late Priscilla Winslow Thompson and the father of Jeffrey, Clifford and Curtis Thompson.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he volunteered for infantry duty and served as rifleman scout with the 334 rd Regiment, 86th Division in Europe, where he was awarded two battle stars. Later he served in the Philippines prior to the cessation of World War II hostilities.
Mr. Thompson attended Marietta College in Ohio and the New York State College of Environmental Science and Forestry, receiving his Bs from the latter institution and his MS and PhD from Syracuse University.
He served as forestland manager for the National Lead Company’s holdings in the Adirondack Mountain of New York. He became Assistant Professor at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry and became a recognized authority on the history of the wilderness movement and served as a consultant on the feasibility of a national park in the Adirondacks.
He served in the Rockefeller administration as Executive Director for the New York State Recreation Council, was Director of the New York State Senate Finance Committee and Secretary of the New York Senate. He initiated and supervised the restoration of the historic Senate chamber for which he received an Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Upon retiring he moved to Mattapoisett and served as president of the Mattapoisett Historical Society and the Mattapoisett Housing Authority. He enjoyed woodworking, reading, gardening and writing, publishing two novels.
Mr. Thompson was cremated and private services will be held. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
Private arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett.