Ellen Ferraro Thompson, 91, departed this life on August 21st. Although she lived in Virginia over 60 years, in both Alexandria and Richmond, Ellen was a New Yorker from birth and at heart. A native of Washington Heights, there were few things she relished more than a Broadway show tune, a Will Shortz crossword puzzle or the taste of a warm slice of pizza.

A proud graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Ellen enjoyed a brief career at Good Housekeeping Magazine prior to marrying her college sweetheart, Tom Thompson, and starting their family. Inspired by the movements of the 60’s and a deep spirituality, she devoted much of her life to social justice including civil rights, voting rights, gun control, and serving the city’s homeless population. After the death of her husband in 1988, she spent 16 happy years working with the Flagler Program daycare at St. Joseph’s Villa.

Ellen was a spirited musician whose tastes ran from Hammerstein to Hamilton and Bernstein to Bad Bunny. She loved a good conversation, particularly with fellow sojourners on her daily walks to the Wetlands of the James River. She never met a stranger and wove a web of connection everywhere she went.

Survivors include daughters Lisa Thompson (Bill Kirschner) and Amy Thompson Blake (Cory) of Richmond and son Tuck Thompson (Alex) of Australia, her granddaughters Emily Quinn, Susanna Kirschner, Audrey Wright and Grace Blake of Richmond and Meredith Millard of Australia, and sister Bea Miller of Florida. She also had 4 great-grandchildren, beloved extended family in New England and Washington State, and her family of friends at Hathaway Tower.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/timesdispatch/name/ellen-thompson-obituary?id=62413200