The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” – Irving Berlin
Obituary
James L. Thompson, 77, of Sewickley, PA, passed away peacefully at home on January 22, 2025 due to a heart condition. Known as Jim, he was born in Sewickley on May 31, 1947 to parents George Thompson and Jeane (Read) Thompson. Jim graduated from the University of Maryland in 1970, earned a Master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University in 1972, and a Master’s Degree in U.S. History from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1998.
Known for his deep radio-announcer voice, Jim worked as a radio DJ and news director from his college days until 1975, when he became a TV news anchorman in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 1978, Jim and his family moved to Altoona, PA, where he worked in radio and as a TV news director. In 1982, he and his family moved to New Jersey, where Jim worked for Dow Jones as chief announcer and computer programmer for the company’s business news radio network.
In 1988, he and his family returned to Altoona, PA, where Jim was a popular radio news personality and DJ through the 1990s. He also taught broadcast journalism and television production at Penn State University from 1990-1992 and was an adjunct history professor at Allegany College of Maryland from 1999-2004, when he retired. In 2016, Jim and his wife Vicki moved to the Chicago area to be close to their three grandchildren. A lover of early rock and roll music, Jim executive produced the award-winning 2018 documentary "How They Got Over" about the Black musicians who created the music that started out as a gospel quartet and became rock and roll.
Preceding Jim in death are his parents, his beloved wife of 55 years, Victoria “Vicki” Thompson, his brother Ralph Thompson, his brother Scott Thompson, and his sister Faye Wamsley.
Jim is survived by his daughter Ellen Thompson Nemetz and her husband Dave Nemetz of Los Angeles, CA, his daughter Lisa Thompson and her husband Rob Thompson of Long Grove, IL, his grandchildren, Liam Thompson, Ryan Thompson, and KJ Thompson of Long Grove, IL, his brother Richard P. Thompson and his wife Rose Malekovic-Thompson of East Liverpool, OH, his sister Nancy Thompson Hohla and her husband George Hohla of New Castle, PA, his sister Janet Thompson Fix of Zelienople, PA, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Jim was a lifelong animal lover with a special affinity for great apes. Donations can be made in his memory to the Center for Great Apes. A private service will be held at a later date.
Other Memorial Pages
Legacy.com (Altoona Mirror)
Cremation Society of Pennsylvania
Find a Grave
Victoria "Vicki" Thompson Memorial Page
Donations
Center for Great Apes
Gallery
Memory wall
I am sorry to hear of the death of the man I only heard referred to as “Cousin Jim in Pennsylvania.” He and my father and other Thompson cousins of their generation had a flurry of email exchanges 20 years ago, which my father printed out and kept in a notebook that I am only now starting to go through. There’s a lot of Thompson history here! Apparently Jim was going to build a Thompson/Bennett/Prosser family history website and the cousins were going to contribute everything they could find about their own branches on the family tree. I came to the internet to see if I could find his website—instead, I found this very recent notice of his passing, a sad and uncanny coincidence. Heartfelt condolences to you on your loss. He sounds like a remarkably accomplished and personable man.
RIP Uncle Jim
Your dad must’ve been the most wonderful dad and husband in the world! Your mom looks so happy in every picture and you are so beautiful dancing with him in your beautiful white dress. It’s easy to see why you are so talented and wise and confident and kind. I hope you and all your family keep sharing all the wonderful memories he gave you all and that you will be comforted knowing he and your mom will be together until you see them again. Loving and praying for you!
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