Michael F. Thompson

Michael Francis Thompson, 74, died on March 10, 2025 at his home in Kittery, Maine, with his beloved partner Julia O’Connell by his side. Mike was born in Portland, Maine on February 11, 1951, to William F. (Bill) and Claire Grady Thompson. Mike’s heart was compromised from the very start. Heroic medical procedures in early infancy saved his fragile life. He mentioned this often, saying that each year was a bonus. Soon after this year’s bonus birthday, his heart finally gave out and he returned to the stars. 

Mike’s young life was one of adventure. He was the middle of three boys who played and made mischief together, especially when their dad went off to serve as a medic in the Korean War, leaving Mom to take care of them. When Dad returned, three girls then came along, making a family of six kids to feed. The family moved around quite a bit in those early years as Dr. Thompson continued his training at various hospitals around the region. The family lived in several locations in New England, punctuated by a short stint in California, before settling in Chelmsford, Massachusetts where Mike attended high school. 

Mike was a serious student and a serious athlete, excelling both in academics and in track, his chosen sport. After graduating from Chelmsford High in 1969, Mike went on to study forestry at the University of New Hampshire. His love of wood brought him to the fine cabinetmaking trade. A perfectionist by nature, he lived fully in the profession that he loved, practicing woodworking eight days a week, designing and building furniture and one-of-a-kind pieces, and sharing his knowledge of the craft with others. Mike was a wordsmith and a gifted poet, a loyal and loving friend, and a lover of the planetary universe.

Mike’s adult life had many adventures and many phases. He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in a 30-foot ketch and later lived on a boat for a time. An avid cyclist, he biked solo through Europe. A spiritual seeker, he lived in a yoga house. He spent several years in California and Oregon, before returning to the east coast to help his older brother, Richard, who suffered from schizophrenia and addiction. His devotion to his brother was an example of his compassion for those less fortunate, which he practiced in his volunteer work, including weekly work with the Kittery food pantry. 

Mike’s brother Richard predeceased him in 2007, followed by his father Bill in 2016 and his mother Claire in 2019. He is survived by his loving partner Julia O’Connell, and four younger siblings: John Thompson and his wife Leslie; Patricia Leavitt and her husband Patrick; Elizabeth Thompson; and Margaret Hoadley. He is also survived by an aunt and several cousins, as well as nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. 

The family would like to thank the medical professionals who attended to Mike in his final moments. A memorial gathering is planned for Sunday, June 1, 2:00 pm, at South Church Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. All are welcome. Donations in Mike’s memory can be made to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org).