Visitation: Thursday (3/17) 3 PM - 7 PM
Prayer Service: Thursday (3/17) 6:30 PM
Departing: Friday (3/18) 8 AM
Cemetery: Calverton National Cemetery (Calverton, NY)

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Robert Harold Thomson, known affectionately as Poppy, passed away on March 10th at the age of 89. Poppy was a proud US Marine who loved his family and his country. As a teenager, he joined the Marines and was deployed to Korea which was an experience that would impact every aspect of his future. Poppy would hesitate to discuss his time during the war but when you had him talking (and once he started he could talk!), you would learn of the bond he shared with his "brothers." From an ice cold splash of water on his face every morning to never wasting any food to meticulously unwrapping presents to save paper, he was a Marine through and through. Whether he was sitting in his chair watching The History Channel in Brooklyn or he was cutting out newspaper clippings of history and war articles to hang in his cabin in Maine, he was a history and war buff. He also enjoyed collecting coins and stamps that were displayed in his "coin room." Poppy received numerous accolades for his service, including The United Nations Service Medal and The Combat Action Ribbon, but he never spoke of these achievements. He was more proud of his family than anything else.

Poppy is survived by his devoted wife of 69 years, Joan Ericson Thomson, and his 3 loving children, Elaine "E" Masterson-Hayden (Tom), Karen Goslin (Bart), and Robert Thomson (Colette), and his 8 adoring grandchildren Scott (Jamie), Rory (Venessa), Alisha (Ryan), Alanna (Angel), BJ, Liz, Robbie, and Liam, and his 6 doting great-grandchildren, CeeJ, Caleigh, MJay, Acacia, Vaughn, and Alyda. Poppy and Joan, his "precious," were true complements of one another with Poppy being the sweet to Joan's spicy. He had his New York family and friends along with his family and friends in Maine and New Jersey. He was incredibly proud of his family and displayed photos and artwork on the walls of fame in both his house in Brooklyn and his cabin in Maine. Most of Poppy's grandkids have lived with him at some point in their lives and will always remember his fragrance: the combination of mouthwash, after shave, baby powder, and cough drops. He would have disliked all the fuss about him right now but he would have loved that he brought his family together.

His body is at peace after a tough battle over the past year. May there be an abundance of comfortable house slippers to wear, New England sport teams to watch, and black coffee to drink in the afterlife. Poppy, your country will forever be thankful for your service and your family will love you always. Semper Fi.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to:

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation