About John

My brother John is the kind of guy who knows no strangers. He is quick with a joke, knows his way inside and out of a car, and is our family "go-to man" when anything breaks, whether it’s the car or the dishwasher. He is the only Thompson who knows what all the tools are called, how to use them and where to find them in his garage.

You can count on the fact he is the first one to sign up and show up, whenever any of us have needed a hand. No job is too big or small. When he and his family traveled to Chicago for our parent's 50th anniversary celebration, he went from looking at a temperamental appliance door to making centerpieces for the party. Now that's a good brother.

While growing up John was always surrounded by friends and fun. He makes every occasion memorable and typically has more than a few surprises up his sleeve. He is the kind of brother that never misses a birthday, no matter how busy life becomes or the number of miles that separate us. His philosophy in life when it comes to the barbecue: "You need to grill enough to feed the entire neighborhood and a grilling machine large enough for the job!" 

Looking through our family photo albums there are many pictures that depict John's love for life and family. I recall the Irish Jig he danced with our grandmother at our parent's 25th anniversary celebration. There are pictures at the summer county fair, just as he is about to compete in the Demolition Derby (My mom was sick with worry, hence his name for his car, "Mother's Worry"); wedding pictures with his wife Tracy and step-daughter Christina; and pictures of us fishing, looking for the illusive "Norman," the bait-eating fish yet to be reeled in! (The photos here show two of John's passions through the years: boating on Kentucky Lake and fishing anywhere he could. Click on photos to enlarge.) 

John makes a great Christmas Morning Bloody Mary and when our Uncle Bill retired the annual Santa Claus visit, John took the torch, (and I believe a Miller Lite) dressed in the suit and beard, and kept the Jolly Old Man alive for our family to enjoy.

There are two things that I think we all remember in life, our first bicycle and our first car. John gave me both.

My first bicycle was red and black with a banana seat. In giving it to me, John explained I needed a "cool bike." The pink frilly ones with the flowered baskets clearly did not qualify. So I was to ride a boy's bike. In my mind that was quite alright, since my older brother's word was "as good as gospel" to me.

There was a hitch, however. Staying vertical on two wheels. As my frustration built as a result of the inordinate amount of time (in the mind of a six year old) it was taking to learn to ride, he took me to a small incline in front of our parent's house. I was terrified. A hill! But he promised the incline would make it easier to ride the bike, swore not to let me fall, and ran beside my little machine. He was right, of course, and I was proudly pedaling around the block for the rest of the day.

For my seventeenth birthday, he became the leading contender for "Brother of the Next 30 Years to Come Award." He did something so extraordinary I assumed there was some sort of blackmail involved; that I would have to wash his car for the rest of my life or clean his house, but of course there were no strings attached. As John pulled into the driveway, after driving from his home in California to Kentucky Lake, Ky., where my parents and I were vacationing, I remember standing on the deck, completely speechless. I believe you would have been too. Imagine a brown truck pulling up the drive with a white, 1965 Mustang hitched to the back.

I remember saying to our cousin, "Omigosh. Do you think that could be for me?" We both looked at each other and screamed. It should come as no surprise, that was my all-time favorite childhood vacation.

What John didn't realize at the time, was that in giving me that beautiful car, he gave me a chance to see Europe. When an opportunity came my way to study in Rome for a college semester, the extra expense was greater than what I could earn over the summer. Selling the Mustang made that dream a reality, and John understood.  It was a difficult choice, made easier by the fact it went to a family friend who loved it as much as I did.

In return, I experienced things I had only read about in class: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, the lights of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, the awe-inspiring Colosseum, and Oktoberfest in Munich. I received a blessing from the Pope and experienced European culture. Most importantly, I met some of my dearest friends in the process. In a nutshell, and please forgive me if this sounds cliche, my brother John gave me the world.

To spend 10 minutes with my brother you would understand why this journey is so important to me. I hope with the help of the route2outsmartcancer community I can help him win the battle he faces today and honor the inspiring man he has become. I am so proud to call him my brother.

  ~Michelle Thompson, November 2006

Comments

[Shari Benge]

I heard about your website and your wonderful endeavor from John. I met John a couple of months ago at Cedars when he came in for surgery. I have been in nursing for over 15 years and he is one of those special patients that touched my heart. In November, he was a patient again. On your website you wrote wonderful things about John, which I have found to be true.
I really enjoyed spending time with him and feel blessed to be one of his many caregivers. He spoke about you, and is very moved by your commitment to raise donations. I am very impressed with your dedication and strength. I understand first hand how you may feel because my brother in law has been fighting a very rare oral cancer for the last five years. I wish you and your family a future of health and well being. John has an excellent team of doctors and I have faith that he will become well again. I also wish you the best of luck with your fundraising in these difficult times. I will spread the word.
Sincerely,
Shari Benge
3rd floor Pre Op nurse
Cedars Sinai
(Originally sent as an email to Michelle, this was posted with the permission of both Shari Benge and John Thompson.)

[Mike and Kathy Phelan]

We were neighbors of the Thompsons when we lived in Glen Ellyn, IL, in the '70s. We have many great memories of the Thompson family.

One of the memories I have of John was when he was in high school taking an automotive class. I asked him if he would "tune up" my wife's car, and he graciously accepted. As hard as he tried, John was embarrassed due to the fact he was not able to start the engine when he thought he was done. After a few days, he reluctantly brought his teacher to our home to show him how to start the car, which he did.

I paid John for the work and asked him if he learned anything after this experience. He said, "Yes, sir, Mr. Phelan. I learned not to try to 'tune up' neighbors' cars anymore."