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THOMSON, GERARD W. 68, died peacefully on January 9, 2015, at the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was born June 7, 1946 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in New York City and was raised in the Bronx. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School, where he played football. He was the starting center, defensive play-caller, and led the team in tackles. He was named to the Daily News Manhattan-Bronx-Richmond Scholastic All Star Football Team in 1963. After graduating from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1964, he attended the College of Santa Fe, where he graduated in 1969 "Cum Laude" with a B.A. in Education. After teaching a year of sixth-grade English, he moved to Albuquerque and attended the University of New Mexico School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 1973. After graduating from UNM School of Law, Gerard practiced with Adams and Foley Law Firm in Albuquerque. He was elected Probate Judge for Bernalillo County and served 1 terms, when he was appointed to sit on the District Court bench in July 1983. He served as the Presiding Civil Court Judge from 1987 until his retirement in 1997. In addition to his professional work, Gerard served on many boards and charities. Most notably, he worked with the Arthritis Foundation, where he was national vice-chairman from 1983-85. After his retirement from the bench, Gerard moved to the Washington, D.C. area when President Bill Clinton appointed his wife Gloria to the FCC. Gerard enjoyed the brief period when he was a stay-at-home dad. He went on to work for the USDA and later for the EEOC until his death. Gerard is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Gloria Tristani, of Chevy Chase, MD; his son Cmdr. Andrew J. Thomson USN, wife Amie and children Mia and Henry; his son Gerard W. Thomson Jr. "Roddy", wife Erika and daughters Olivia and Paisley; his son Dennis N. Thomson, wife Michelle and daughters Josephine and Eleonore; his daughter Vanesa Cox-Tristani husband Cesar Nunez and son Javier and his son Jorge P. Thomson. Gerard is also survived by his brother, Dr. Brendan Thomson, wife Sandra; his sister, Kathy Thomson; his mother-in-law, Gloria C. Tristani; his brother-in-law, Jorge E. Tristani, Jr.; his brother-in-law, Dennis Tristani, wife Anne Howard-Tristani; and many other family members. Gerard was a hard-working, humble and humorous person who touched the lives of many around him. Gerard loved to retreat to the family house in the Southern Maryland town of Lusby, on the Chesapeake Bay, where he enjoyed boating on his sailboat, Higher Love, and his new motorboat. Services for Gerard will be held on Friday, January 23, 2015 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 4020 Lomas Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. The Rosary will be read at 11:00 a.m. with Mass starting at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for a donation in Gerard's name to the Lymphoma Research Foundation, where a tribute page has been set up honoring Gerard at www.lymphoma.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1058267&supId=417151343, or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org. Please visit our online guestbook for Gerard at www.FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH - University 1111 University Blvd. NE 505-843-6333
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