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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF OLIN WOODROW THOMPSON, III,

ESQ.

     Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Knight, Dawson,
Solomon, Shanley, Batista, Craven, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Olin

Woodrow Thompson, III, a highly-respected Federal Defender, the beloved husband of Christa

Thompson, and proud father of three sons, Olin IV, Atticus and Nat; and

     WHEREAS, Born into a loving home “with silly and lovable dogs,” family dinners, art,

and the ever-present crossword puzzle, Olin Thompson was the cherished son of Olin Thompson,

Jr. and the late Maryjane Thompson, and the devoted brother of Amanda Thompson and her

partner, Frank Sargenti. He had an idyllic youth with summers spent with his grandparents and at

Camp Fuller, where he met the love of his life and future bride. He also traveled with family and

friends to Europe, the Caribbean and Asia; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson grew up in the City of Providence, and Newton,

Massachusetts. He attended Moses Brown and was a graduate of Newton South Lion. He

received his Bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, where he majored in Political Science, and

earned his Juris Doctor from Duke Law School. Upon attaining his law degree, he began working

at the Rhode Island Public Defender’s Office, maintained a flourishing private practice, and

eventually became a venerated Federal Defender; and

     WHEREAS, Dedicated to the betterment of his profession, Mr. Thompson was a

longtime member and past President of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense

Lawyers, served on numerous bench-bar committees and on Governor Raimondo’s Working

Group on Criminal Justice Reinvestment, managed numerous federal sentence reduction projects,

was chairman of the East Greenwich juvenile hearing board, and enjoyed judging middle and

high school mock trial competitions; and

     WHEREAS, Highly respected by his peers, Mr. Thompson was awarded an Honorary

Doctor of Laws by Roger Williams University School of Law, and lauded by Judge William E.

Smith of the United States District Court who stated, “Simply put, Olin has contributed more to

the cause of justice and fairness than any other member of the bar of the federal court during my

18 years on the bench”; and

     WHEREAS, In his mid-forties, Mr. Thompson began experiencing symptoms and was

soon thereafter diagnosed with ALS. He faced this adversity with his trademark dignity and

courage, and did his best to take joy from his days at home with his boys, his faithful pup Rocco

and his wife, Christa; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson wore many hats over the course of his too short lifetime, “a

Federal Defender, judicial nominee, avid pitch player, Liverpool fan, body surfer, musician,

soccer-sideline watcher, standardized test savant, trivia monster and a loyal and true friend” but

his dedication for the law and his many pastimes was always eclipsed by his love for his family.

His “greatest joy was being with his boys” and nurturing them to become strong and

compassionate men. He was a truly brave, beloved and brilliant gentleman whose “absurd wit

brought belly laughs to those who knew him” and he will be dearly and forever missed; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extends deepest sympathy on the passing of Olin Woodrow Thompson, III; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mrs. Christa Thompson and Family, and Mr.

Olin Thompson, Jr.

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