Douglas Brown Thompson, 60, of Vero Beach, died peacefully June 9, 2010, in his home surrounded by his family after a brief illness. Survivors include his wife, Leslie Bacon Thompson; his daughter Emily Brown Thompson of New York City; his son Nathanial Kanzler Thompson of Boston; his twin daughters Olivia Gunnison Thompson and Sophie Marion Thompson of Camden, Maine; his parents, Thomas S. and Nathalie B. Thompson of Vero Beach, Florida; his sisters Ingrid T. Morsman (Kimball H. Morsman) of Bryn Mawr, Pa., Kristin T. Patterson of Erie, Pa., and Theresa Maria “Chiqui” Guiribitey (James Langone) of Vero Beach; his brother Charles T. “Todd” (Mary Thompson) of Southbury, Conn.; and six nieces and nephews; and Carole Bacon, his mother-in-law. He was preceded in death by his brother Eric S. Thompson.
Doug Thompson was born on July 28, 1949, in New York City. His early years were spent in Greenwich, Conn., Mountain Lakes, N.J., and Darien, Conn. Following his graduation from Kent School he attended the Shrewsbury School in England as an English Speaking Union student. He earned a B.A. in Economics from Wesleyan University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
While at Wesleyan University, Doug attended the Economic Institute in Santiago, Chile where he developed a life-long interest in South America. Following graduation from Wesleyan, Doug worked on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and this sparked his interest in the energy business. Eventually he took a controlling interest in a helicopter business that serviced oil rigs. He also worked for J. Water Thompson in Sao Paolo, Brazil. He returned to the United States to further his education at Harvard Business School. Upon graduation he went to work for Daniel K. Ludwig, the American Industrialist, developing the Amapa Project in the Amazon.
Twenty-five years ago, Doug founded Jupiter Management Company, a private equity firm he used to invest in the energy sector. His holdings grew to include investments in oil service companies in the lower United States, Russia, the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
In addition to his numerous successes in the business world, Doug was a life-long adventurer and sports enthusiast who always found time to pursue his life’s passions. These included sailing, rowing, golf, tennis, riding, hiking, mountain climbing and running. He rowed at the Henley Regatta, skied the Alps, climbed mountains in Peru, explored the Amazon River Basin, and ran the Boston Marathon, but his favorite times were spent on the water. He was an avid sailor who enjoyed racing his sloop Erica in Penobscot Bay and Nantucket Sound. He possessed tremendous intellect and enjoyed books, the theater, the arts and geology.
A dedicated philanthropist, Doug was actively involved in supporting St. Edward’s School, The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, Indian River Memorial Hospital, Kent School, St. Lawrence University and Wesleyan University.
Doug loved animals and surrounded himself with: Liberty (his special girl), Lady, Wyeth, Guenther, Madison, Juan Carlos, Snort, Gunnie (his special boy), Roger, Trouble, Rio and Beau.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 12, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2365 Pine Avenue, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Edward’s School, 1895 St. Edward’s Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963 and the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32961.
