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Robert M. Thomson, 88, yachtsman, civic leader

Robert Macrae Thomson, 88, of Wayne, a sailor, skier, and gardener, died Monday, July 13, of pneumonia at Bryn Mawr Hospital after several years of living with progressive bulbar palsy, a disease that attacks the nerves supplying certain muscles.

Robert Macrae Thomson
Robert Macrae ThomsonRead more

Robert Macrae Thomson, 88, of Wayne, a sailor, skier, and gardener, died Monday, July 13, of pneumonia at Bryn Mawr Hospital after several years of living with progressive bulbar palsy, a disease that attacks the nerves supplying certain muscles.

Mr. Thomson worked in paper and packaging-goods sales, first in New York City for the Lily-Tulip Cup Corp., and later for the Dairy Pack division of Champion Paper in New Jersey.

He and his family lived in Devon, Riverton, and, finally, Wayne.

Born in Stamford, Conn., Mr. Thomson grew up on Shippan Point. He traced his lifelong love of the water to Long Island Sound, where he sailed a variety of small boats. In 1945, he won the Junior Championship of Long Island Sound.

Mr. Thomson was a graduate of the Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn., and Dartmouth College's Class of 1950. He deferred his enrollment at Dartmouth to complete service in the Navy.

In 1951, he married Julia "Dodie" Elliott. The two lived in Rowayton, Conn., and began a family before moving to the Philadelphia area in the 1960s.

Mr. Thomson completed 15 Newport Bermuda races and numerous Annapolis Newport races. In his later years, he raced among the fleet at the Riverton Yacht Club.

A 50-year member of the Cruising Club of America, he was a past member of the Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia and the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake.

Mr. Thomson also skied well into his 70s. Every Wednesday morning in winter, he would drive to Blue Mountain in Palmerton, Pa., and ski with other seniors.

After his first wife died in 1978, Mr. Thomson moved to Riverton. A few years later, while on a ski trip with his children, he met Marjorie Cote in a hotel dining room. They married within the year.

The two planted showstopping gardens around their riverfront home. Together, they founded the Riverton Improvement Association. The group sought contributions to plant flowers and provide enhancements to the downtown.

Later, Mr. Thomson led the effort to install a town clock and 18 antique "gaslights" on Main and Howard Streets, all paid for with private donations.

"I've fallen in love with this place. We want people to remember Riverton as a pretty place. This is just the beginning," he told The Inquirer in June 1997.

Besides his wife, he is survived by daughter Robin Crawford; sons Christopher Elliott and Cary Wade; stepchildren Eric Gibson, Kristin Seibert, Stephen Gibson, and Alan Gibson; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother. d earlier.

A memorial service is to be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, in the old portion of St. David's Episcopal Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Rd., Wayne. Burial was private.

Contributions may be made to the Corinthian Historical Foundation, Box 366, Essington, Pa. 19029, or the Riverton Improvement Association, 809 Thomas Ave., Riverton, N.J. 08077.