In Memoriam: Lynn E. Thompson, 1935-2017 ynn E. Thompson, associate professor emeritus of social work and former assistant dean of the School of Social Work, died at his home in Milwaukie on February 18 at age 81. Professor Thompson was born December 15, 1935, in Oakland, California, the only child of Lynn Thompson and Eleanor Saulpaugh Thompson. He grew up in Oakland and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1962 and a master of social work in 1964 from the University of California, Berkeley. Gordon Hearn, the first dean of the Portland State School of Social Work, was his undergraduate adviser. Professor Thompson married Christine Kirkland Malcolm in Oakland on December 24, 1963. After graduation, the couple moved to Portland, where Professor Thompson began work at the Parry Center, a residential treatment program for children. Two years later he left Parry to become a student counselor and instructor at Mount Angel College. In summer 1968 Professor Thompson worked with Dan Jennings and the Oregon Department of Public Welfare to survey the undergraduate social work courses being taught in Oregon. Public Welfare funded the study to assess the feasibility of establishing an undergraduate program. That fall he was recruited to Portland State to develop an undergraduate certificate program in social work. He remained in that position until 1974, when Professor Norm Wyers became coordinator. The social work major began in 1975, was accredited in 1981, and graduated more than 150 students before it was phased out in the mid-1980s. Professor Thompson taught practice courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels throughout his PSU career. He was a regular instructor for first-year courses in direct services methods. He helped to develop a required course on group work, and he was instrumental in developing a laboratory that used TV to record students as they practiced social work skills. He became assistant dean under Dean Ricky Ross in 1978 and continued in that position until he retired in 1987. “Lynn was very organized, thoughtful, and supportive in his role as assistant dean,” recalled Barbara Friesen, professor emerita of social work. “He is remembered fondly by those who had the good fortune to work with him or take his classes.” Professor Thompson continued his social work career after retirement from Portland State, opening a private practice in which he worked with men’s groups. Retirement gave him an opportunity to write poetry, something he had dabbled in since childhood, and he produced two books of verse. He also developed a profound interest creating stained glass, a pursuit he continued until he developed rheumatoid arthritis. He is survived by his wife, Chris. The Thompsons recently created the Clinical Social Work and Mental Health Endowed Scholarship to support students in the MSW program who plan to concentrate in clinical social work and mental health. Because this is a newer endowment, donors to the fund might consider directing their gift to the payout account, ensuring that an award will be made to a student in the coming year. Gifts can be sent directly to the PSU Foundation, PO Box 243, Portland, OR 97207-0243, or made online at www.psuf.org/Thompson. For more information, contact Gayle Schneider, director of development, School of Social Work, 503-725-5032, or schneiderg@psuf.org. --Nancy Koroloff and Doug Swanson 7 L
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