MSPE Mourns Loss of Douglas J. Thompson, PE, F.MSPE

Douglas J. Thompson, P.E., F.MSPE November 1, 1963 – May 14, 2019 The Michigan Society of Professional Engineers is deeply saddened to report on the recent passing of one of our most active and dedicated members, Mr. Douglas J. Thompson, P.E., F.MSPE. Doug epitomized selfless service to the engineering profession and to the society, as he freely gave of his time and talents at both the State and Chapter level over his career. Since the beginning of his engineering career in 1988, he was an integral part of the revitalization of the Southeast Chapter, and served as nearly every officer and in nearly every committee capacity within the Chapter. He was also a consistent leader in affairs of the State society, serving as Regional Vice President twice (most recently 2009-2013), and Awards Committee Chairperson (2003-2019), was active on the State Scholarship Committee (2001-2019), Annual Conference Planning Committee (multiple occasions), and was active on the Political Action Committee (PAC), all during continuous periods of many years. At the Chapter level, he was the primary impetus behind the wildly successful local scholarship program, which has sponsored over 100 student scholarships since 1999, raised more than $300,000, and presently is close to a permanent endowment. He served as Chapter President three times (most recently 2005-06), Scholarship Committee Chairperson (1999-2019), and annually assisted with the MATHCOUNTS program at both the Chapter and State level. Doug served as an inspiration to countless young engineers and engineering students, both inside and outside of the MSPE family, and dedicated much of his free time to strengthening the profession and the education of the next generation of engineers, whether through financial assistance, mentoring, or simply encouragement. He was an avid golfer, a rabid fan of the Detroit Red Wings and University of Michigan sports, and was generally the life of any party that he attended, and in many cases, organized. Numerous current active members of both the Southeast Chapter and MSPE at large can credit their involvement to Doug’s persuasion as he extolled the virtues of the organization and rallied others to join the cause. During his twenty years as Chief Engineer for the Monroe County Drain Commissioner’s Office, he was responsible for all plan reviews for the entire county during periods of extensive growth, coordinated utility and plant reviews for both the South County Water System and Bedford Township Wastewater Treatment Plant. He also performed work at various times in his career offering private civil engineering design services both independently and in partnership with a variety of developers, builders, and architects, and was a licensed storm water operator. Doug was honored as Engineer of the Year in 2013 by MSPE, and was inducted into the Society of Fellows in 2014. Doug was a graduate of Monroe High School in Monroe, Michigan and graduated from Michigan Technological University in 1987 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Martha F. (Darnton) Thompson, P.E., F.MSPE, F.NSPE of Temperance; his parents, Ron and Marta Thompson of Temperance; one brother, David P. (Jessica) Thompson of Erie; and niece and nephew William and Elizabeth Thompson of Erie. Arrangements are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the MSPE Southeastern Chapter Douglas J. Thompson Scholarship Fund or the Michigan Medicine Transplant Center. Friends and family are invited to Rupp Funeral Home Sunday May 19, 2019 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for visitation. A memorial service will be held Monday May 20, 2019 at Rupp Funeral Home at 10 a.m. with Deacon Mike Hammond officiating. View the message from the funeral home here.