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Herbert A. Thompson

Poughkeepsie, NY - Herbert A. Thompson, a resident of Poughkeepsie, NY, passed away in Poughquag, NY on January 1, 2019 after a long struggle with his health. 

Herb was born in Audubon, NJ on January 30, 1951 and grew up in nearby Bellmawr. After graduating from Triton High School, he completed an electronics training program and began his 35-year career in computer hardware support. Over the years, Herb enjoyed the challenge of ever-evolving technology, easily adapting to constant change across a variety of platforms from "big iron" mainframes to PCs. 

Family and friends knew Herb to be an exceptionally kind and gentle person with smiling eyes and a ready laugh. He was unselfish and sensitive to the feelings of others and always enjoyed good conversation and good fun. Herb's favorite hobbies included gardening, cooking, and savoring tasty foods of all ethnicities. He did a lot of driving in his life and enjoyed listening to sixties rock as the miles rolled by. 

Herb had a very sharp mind and was driven by endless curiosity, especially in the areas of science and nature. When he was in his forties, he discovered what would become a consuming, lifelong passion - birdwatching. He became a life member of New Jersey Audubon and spent as much time as he could birding Cape May County. After retiring and migrating to the "Great White North" in 2010, Herb became an active member of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club in Dutchess County, helping less experienced birders on field trips, submitting his sightings each month, and serving as bird census coordinator for several years. He was also a member of the New York State Ornithological Association for many years and was instrumental in establishing its New York State Young Birders Club in 2008. During his ten years as co-chair of the club, he mentored teen birders on monthly field trips all over New York State and guided them as they competed in New Jersey Audubon's annual World Series of Birding. He encouraged them to follow in his footsteps, saying, "Twenty or thirty years from now, take a kid birding!"

Herb is survived by his loving partner of 25 years, Carena Pooth of Poughquag, NY; his daughter, Heather (Jeff) Green of National Park, NJ and her mother, Kathy Thompson of Bellmawr, NJ; his granddaughter, Fallon Schomber, and his grandson, Jett Green, of National Park; his mother, Anne Marie Thompson (née Whildin) of Bellmawr; his sister, Carol Anderson of Auburn, NY and her three daughters; his brother, Bruce (Linda) Thompson of Ocean City, NJ and their daughter and two sons; and many others in his large, extended family. Herb's father, Carl Thompson, predeceased him in 1999 and his brother-in-law, John Anderson, predeceased him in 2017.

Herb will be laid to rest at Steelmantown Cemetery in Woodbine, NJ, adjacent to one of his favorite birding destinations, Belleplain State Forest. Family and friends are invited to gather there for an informal burial service at 1:00 PM on January 6, 2019. Funeral arrangements by Fertig Funeral Home, Mullica Hill. A private celebration of Herb's life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to New Jersey Audubon, https://community.njaudubon.org/page.aspx?pid=359

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