On January 21, 2003 Malcolm Edward Thompson, son of Leon Edward Thompson and Helen Ulrich, died of emphysema.
He is survived by his stepfather, Edward Tobin of Tequesta, FL; his sister Janice Thomas of Miami, FL; his sister Lee Albright of Rockwall, TX; his two sons, Cameron Thompson of Nashua, NH, Ryder Thompson of Stonington, CT; and their mother, Caroline Thompson of Mystic, CT.
Malcolm was born on June 6, 1928 in Bronxville, NY. He spent some of his childhood in Hampton, New Hampshire, but most of it was in Manhattan, New York. He attended high school at Brooklyn Tech and Bronx High School of Science.
On his 17th birthday he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Aviation Cadet Program. After completing Aviation Officer Candidate School, he entered the Navy Flight Training Program. Upon graduation in 1948 he earned his commission as an Ensign. He was assigned to Air Group 17 and was based at NAS Quonset Point, RI and Jacksonville, FL, flying TBM Avengers. He served on several aircraft carrier tours.
He became a naval flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, teaching in the North American SNJ. Aircraft he flew also included the Douglas AD-1 Skyraider. He was also briefly a CIC Officer aboard the USS Roosevelt in 1952. During his commission he studied at Hampton-Sydney College in VA, and Duke University. He resigned from the Navy and was discharged in 1954, after 9½ years of service.
Malcolm returned to New York and enrolled in the Art Students League, studying under Frank J. Reilly for 3½ years. He joined an illustrators studio in 1957 doing covers for paperbacks. He commenced painting portraits in Westchester, Long Island, and Philadelphia. When the studio in which he painted was torn down to make room for the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, he took a flying job with Seven Seas Airlines. In 1960 he flew around the world, mid-east, and Africa. He switched to Inter-Ocean Airways in 1961 and flew DC-4’s under contract for the United Nations in the former Belgian Congo at Leopoldville.
Malcolm briefly quit flying in 1962-63 and moved to Paris. He had a painting studio there for several years, and attended both the Academy de la Grand Chaumiere and the Alliance Francais as a serious art student.
Malcolm returned to New York in 1964 and resumed portrait painting. In 1967 he took a flying job with Trans Carribbean World Airways, where he was made Captain flying Boeing 727’s. In 1969 he moved to Guilford, CT. His airline was bought out by American Airlines, with whom he continued flying 727’s.
Malcolm moved to Stonington, CT in 1971-72. He bought a 72 foot schooner in Newfoundland in 1980 and sailed it to Stonington. Shortly thereafter he moved aboard it with his two sons and docked the “Pursuit of Happiness” in downtown Mystic, CT. He used it as a floating art gallery, displaying his paintings on cool summer afternoons. He retired from American Airlines in 1988, and lived and worked aboard the boat until 1999 when he became too ill with emphysema and was forced to sell.
Per Malcolm’s wishes, his remains will be cremated, and there will be no funeral. However, his family will be holding a Memorial Gathering this Saturday evening at the German Club at 54 Greenmanville Ave. (Route 27), Mystic from 6pm to 9pm. All are welcome. To respect Malcolm’s wishes, please do not bring flowers.