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ATHENS--William J. Thompson, noted American sculptor and art
professor emeritus of the University of Georgia, died Thursday, July
13, at St. Mary’ Hospital. He was 69.
The funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Athens was
celebrated by Dom Augustine Moore, OCSO, retired abbot of the
Monastery of the Holy Spirit. The homily was delivered by Father
Anthony Delisi, OCSO. Mr. Thompson was buried in Oconee Cemetery.
He had completed a 10-foot, torch-bearing figure titled “The
Spirit of Athens” the day before entering the hospital where he
died of pneumonia.
An associate oblate of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, his
religious sculptures in the area include “the Risen Christ”
in St. Patrick’s Church, Norcross, and the tabernacle of Holy
Family Church, Marietta. In 1984 he completed a Madonna and Child for
the Cathedral of St. Mary, Diocese of St. Cloud, Minn. He also
sculpted a bust of Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan commissioned by the
clergy and Religious brothers and sisters of the archdiocese for the
archbishop’s residence.
Other works of note include a statue of philanthropist and Coca-Cola
Co. magnate Robert Woodruff which stands between the High Museum of
Art and the Memorial Arts building in Atlanta and a statue of Sen.
Richard Russell on the Capitol grounds.
He also created the statue of Charles Lindbergh at Southern Air
Field in Americus and the memorial to American prisoners of war at the
Andersonville National Historic Site.
A native of Denver, he was a graduate of the Rhode Island School of
Design. In 1952, he received his master’s in fine arts from
Cranbrook Academy. He was a member of the national Academy of Design.
He retired from teaching in 1989 and in 1992 a gallery was named
after him in the sculpture building of the school of art at UGA.
Survivors include his wife, Claire McCabe Thompson; three daughters,
Sara Baker of Athens, Elizabeth Goizueta of Chicago and Megan
Horstmann of Philadelphia; three sons, Jon Thompson of Raleigh, N.C.,
Joseph Thompson of Long Creek, S.C., and Michael Thompson of Atlanta;
two sisters, Mary Barry and Dolores McQuade both of Barrington, R.I.;
and nine grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, 2625
Highway 212, Conyers, GA 30208. |
