Eric Tompkins 1951 - 2015

Eric Tompkins

I learned this week from Ed Grosvenor - Eric's roommate senior year in Hitchcock - that Eric had passed away in April. I might have suspected something was amiss when Eric cancelled his reservation for the 45th Reunion at the last minute for what I was told was an operation. At the time, however, he wrote Participation Chair Lacey and me in his typically upbeat fashion, "Looking forward to seeing you guys again at another further meeting at Deerfield!" Eric may be gone but he will not forgotten at our 50th.

Eric enrolled as a freshman in 1965, a year ahead of his brother Clay, and was on the editorial board of both The Scroll and Pocumtuck. While not an athlete at Deerfield, Eric developed a passion for competitive rowing and was a member of the San Diego Rowing Club. As recently as February 2014 he competed in the world indoor rowing championships in Boston and finished 18th in his age and weight class.

For the last twenty years Eric advised healthcare clients in strategic planning, medical office building management and leasing, development services, and financing and sales transactions nationally for CBRE (f/k/a CB Richard Ellis), one of the foremost commercial real estate and investment firms in the world. 

Although he lived on the West Coast, Eric remained involved with Deerfield on a local level and returned for the 40th Reunion. You will see him in the first photo of the 40th Reunion pictures standing next to Ed and a group of rather suspect characters on the first night. 

His obituary is reprinted below:

TOMPKINS--Frederic F.

Frederic F. "Eric" Tompkins, died on April 21, 2015 in San Diego, California. He was the son of Mrs. Frederic P. Tompkins, Rumson, New Jersey and the late Mr. Tompkins. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Hamilton, their two children, Catherine S. and Frederic H. Tompkins. He is also survived by two sisters, Caroline T. Garrity (Mrs. Jonathan) and Evelyn W. Tompkins, two brothers, R. Clayton (Karen) Tompkins and Christopher P. (Cade) Tompkins and seven nieces and nephews. He was a Vice President in the Healthcare Services Group of CBRE. Eric was a graduate of Rumson Country Day School, Deerfield Academy, with distinction from University of Virginia and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. In lieu of flowers, donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center would be appreciated.