Dr. Carolyn Thompson, the wife of UTC Chancellor Roger Brown.The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and our entire community have lost a valued and popular citizen in the death of Dr. Carolyn Thompson, the wife of UTC Chancellor Roger Brown.
Thompson had fought an extended illness before her death, but was constantly and constructively engaged with the university community in good humor as she braved months of aggressive treatment at Vanderbilt University.
She had been actively involved in a variety of student groups, and was a vivacious part of student and faculty life.
A native of Worcester, Mass., Thompson earned degrees at Emmanuel College in Boston, at St. Louis University and at Johns Hopkins University.
She had a career in social work, in addition to her extensive service in the Chattanooga community.
Her wide-ranging activities included involvement with the Women's Leadership Institute, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Friends of the Festival, the Hunter Museum of American Art, United Way, Allied Arts, Friends of Moccasin Bend, and the National Park Service, as well as with many other organizations.
Partnering closely with Brown, Thompson was a tremendous asset both for our community and for the local university, its faculty and its student body.
And so it is certainly appropriate that she will be warmly remembered, with honor, respect and broad appreciation.
Funeral services will be at Patten Chapel on the UTC campus today at 10 a.m.