William D. Thompson, 89, died on May 24, 2011, in his home in Vero Beach of natural causes.
Born in Edgewood, Pa., to Ephriam Thompson and Blanche Watson Thompson, he was the youngest of three sons and was predeceased by his siblings.
He was a long time resident of Darien, Conn., where he raised his family.
After attending the Lawrenceville School in Princeton, N.J., he was admitted to Yale University and graduated in 1944.
Upon graduation from Yale, he became a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served as an artillery instructor during World War II.
Following World War II, Thompson worked for Scovill Manufacturing in Waterbury, Conn., and McCann Erickson in New York City.
In 1952 he joined Young & Rubicam and, ultimately, became the youngest executive vice president in the company’s history at that time.
He participated in the branding strategy and image development of companies that became well known leaders in their markets: Dr. Pepper, Birds Eye frozen foods, Merrill Lynch, P. Lorillard & Co., Johnson & Johnson.
His daughters fondly remember their father introducing them to products before they were publicly known.
During his working years, he enjoyed mentoring young people aspiring to Madison Avenue careers.
He shared his love of life with his grandchildren at every opportunity.
After retiring from Young & Rubicam, Thompson was the founding member of the Bank of Darien in Darien, Conn., and Marine Bank in Vero Beach.
Survivors include his wife Nancy; three daughters Elizabeth Daly, of Bryn Mawr, Pa., Margaret Weekly and Susan McNamee, both of Rye, N.Y.; his five grandchildren and his four great – grandchildren.
His first wife, Margaret Anderson Thompson, and the mother of his daughters died in 1987.
His second wife, Mimi Coleman died in 1996.
Memorial contributions may be made to the VNA Hospice Foundation of Indian River County, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or to the Lawrenceville School, P.O. Box 6008, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
