A day etched in memory

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 marked a sad day in our lives. Our dear neighbor, Mr. Thompson passed away peacefully in his sleep. He never made it to his 77th birthday. Our hearts mourn this wonderful, intelligent, warm, kind and generous man. He was never without a smile or a story to tell and he always kept an eye on things for us... I still remember when wwe had first moved in and my husband had to go out of town. It was the first time I was all alone and I was extra careful to turn the alarm on after me and lock all doors... or so I thought... I heard the door bell ring one evening and greeted the door with Bob wagging his finger at me, I didn't understand until I opened the door to see my keys dangling on the outside!

My favorite memories of Bob is the long conversations we would have just sitting out on the porch or playing with the puppy, Bob loved little Bama and was tempted to even get one of his own! I am saddened that we can never have those conversations anymore. This is one man who has accomplished so much in his life and yet, so humble. I wish we had known him a lot longer than the 2-3 years we've been neighbors but I shall not be too greedy and cherish the time we did share.

Rest in peace my friend, I know you are in a better place where hurt no longer wrecks your physique and also where your wife must be excited to see you again! Say hi to Scott for me as well and until we meet again, I hope you know how much we have enjoyed your friendship!

Here's the obituary obtained from the Tennessean (http://www.legacy.com/Tennessean/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=122637324)

Walter Robert Thompson

THOMPSON, Walter Robert February 26, 1932 to January 7, 2009. Walter Robert "Bob" Thompson passed away at his home on Wednesday, achieving one of his final goals. A complex and unique man, Bob's life was typified by the themes of intellect, ethics, persistence and achievement. His intellect, which was evident throughout his life, was fed by a voracious appetite for learning and reading coupled with a rigid adherence to intellectual honesty and the search for the truth.

This intellectual gift and approach rewarded Bob in later life with the chance to teach Ethics at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Business, a role he cherished. In some respects this was a coming of full circle as Vanderbilt had played an earlier important part in Bob's life, having graduated from Vanderbilt Law School at age 42 with no undergraduate degree, one of only two persons to have done so. This law degree in addition to satisfying another goal, namely following in the footsteps of his Grandfather, Judge Walter Benjamin Thompson, provided the means for Bob to continue to serve one of his great loves, music and the composers who create it.

Prior to Law School, Bob had a significant background and resume of achievement in the production and marketing of music working with greats such as Dave Brubeck, Barbra Streisand, Andy Williams, Robert Goulet, and Bill Watrous, and two albums he produced are included in the permanent collection of Contemporary Jazz at the Smithsonian. Once having attained to the practice of law, his love for the creators of music led him to a legal career exemplified by the defense and protection of the intellectual property rights of those creators including Otis Redding, Roger Miller, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and others. Additional achievements include the Associated Press Citation of Merit for his role leading the broadcast of the 1956 Soviet Invasion of Hungary for Armed Forces Radio, serving as President of SESAC Music, Inc., lecturing on Leadership Ethics at the Pentagon, Chairing the TN State Film, Music and Entertainment Commission, imprinting so many people who now share his passion for ethics and integrity, and certainly not least, providing his children with an opportunity set very different from that with which he started.

Bob is survived by his mother Ruth Thompson, three sisters, his three children Philip, Carolyn and Bo, their spouses and eight grandchildren, and he now joins his wife Adrianne who passed away almost fourteen years ago. A patriotic man who served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict and supported our service men and women to the end, he will be memorialized at 2 p.m. January 16 at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has selected three charitable organizations information regarding which will be available at the services.