WILLIAM P. THOMPSON

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WILLIAM P. THOMPSON Ph.D., Renowned Architectural Historian Dr. William P. Thompson, age 64, died in St. Boniface Hospital, in Winnipeg Manitoba, on December 24, 2006 after a short illness. Dr. William was Professor Emeritus of Architectural History at the School of Architecture, University of Manitoba, where he retired in 2002 after 33 years of service. Dr. Thompson partnered on many restoration projects in his career that saved the historic sites of Canada, especially in Winnipeg and Manitoba. William was also a prolific traveler and established scholarly exchanges between Canadian architects and those in China and Mexico. William was the past president of the Manitoba Historical Society and received their top prize in 1978 for his book, Winnipeg Architecture. In 1992, William was recognized for his lifetime of work in Canada by becoming one of the few non-Canadians to be awarded the prestigious Canada 125 medal, which honors the most important contributors to Canada's first 125 years. This honor came for his achievements in advancing knowledge of and the conservation of Canadian architecture. In 1996, he won the University of Manitoba's Outreach Award for outstanding service to Manitoba through achievements in neighborhood conservation. William is predeceased by his parents, William and Dorothea Thompson of Bernardsville, NJ and is survived by his partner, Evelyn McFarland; his two beloved goddaughters, Andrea and Kimberly; and his four brothers and their families: Dr. Peter Thompson of Franklin, PA; Gary Thompson of Albany, NY; Mark Thompson of Bernardsville, NJ; and Robert Thompson of Oberlin, OH. Services will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Basking Ridge, NJ in the coming weeks. Donations should be made to the School of Architecture, University of Manitoba to fund scholarships for the next generation of architects.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 27, 2006