Associate Dean of Biological Sciences Marjorie Thompson dies

Updated Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 10:50 p.m.

Marjorie Thompson 74 PhD79 P02 P07 P09 P12 P14 P16, associate dean of biological sciences, died Monday afternoon while on leave from the University this semester, said Katherine Smith, who was appointed interim associate dean of biological sciences Sept. 1.

Its going to be an extreme loss a personal one for many students, Smith told The Herald. She was beloved by all.

Thompson died at Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island surrounded by family and close friends, wrote Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Jack Elias and Associate Dean of Biology Edward Hawrot in an email to the Division of Biology and Medicine Tuesday afternoon.

Throughout her time here she remained committed to advancing the University in numerous and enduring ways, President Christina Paxson wrote in a community-wide email Tuesday night.

In her post as associate dean, which she held since 1983, Thompson led the Biology Undergraduate Affairs Office, which oversees the undergraduate biology curriculum and advising system.

Thompson completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Brown, receiving a bachelor of science in biochemistry in 1974 and a Ph.D. in biology in 1979, according to the Biology Undergraduate Affairs Office website.

She married husband Ian Thompson PhD79 and had seven children, six of whom attended or currently attend the University.

Though Thompson was set to teach BIOL 3643: Histology this semester, her leave of absence prevented her from instructing the course, Smith said.

Last spring, Thompson led two sections of BIOL 0320: Vertebrate Embryology, according to Banner. Over her time at the University, she taught histology to medical students and embryology, biological illustration and scientific writing to undergraduates, Elias and Hawrot wrote.

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Associate Dean of Biological Sciences Marjorie Thompson dies