Jeffrey Thompson
May 17, 1984 -
Apr 23, 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our son Jeffrey Zacharias Thompson. Born May 17, 1984, in Anchorage, Alaska, Jeff died unexpectedly on April 23, 2021, in Oakland, Calif. He graduated from Dimond High School in 2002, and from Yale University in 2006 with a B.S. in physics. He was always a very bright and academically-oriented kid.
Jeff had a passion for traveling, so after getting his degree from Yale, he began his education career teaching English in Nanchang, China, then working in Shanghai counseling and teaching students applying to U.S. colleges. After seven years of working and traveling extensively in China and SE Asia, he returned to the U. S. and Harvard University where he got his master's degree in international education policy in 2014. With a strong interest in equity and equality in education, he continued working with students from China then began a career in California, first with California Charter Schools Assoc. then with Edtec in Oakland.
Jeffrey was a delightful child, always easygoing. He and his sister Katherine shared their childhood in joy with their parents. In his adult life he happily pursued his interests in traveling around the world, making and keeping friends, hiking, biking, exercising, cooking and reading. He had met the love of his life, his soul mate Hima, and they planned to be married in August 2021. Jeff was highly thought of by so many people. His family cherished him and his memory will always be part of our lives. We are so sorry his life could not continue.
He is survived by his fiance, Hima Raviprakash; parents, Paul Thompson and Mary Zacharias; sister, Katherine Thompson; future brother and sister-in-law, Tara and Sahil Sood, who already loved him as a brother; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends.
We are so happy he had a life of joy. Words cannot express our sadness that he is gone.
A memorial on Zoom is planned for May 16, 2021. Any family or friends who would like a link, please contact Mary and Paul, or leave a message on the legacy page.
