Thaddeus A. Thomson III ’50

Thad, who lived in Venezuela since 1958, died Sept. 23, 2013, in Caracas.

Born in Baltimore, he grew up in diverse locations in the United States and Western Europe, where his father, a career Navy officer, was assigned. At Princeton, Thad was active in intermural sports, belonged to Colonial, and majored in the School of Public and International Affairs. He served three years as an artillery officer, posted at Fort Sill, Okla., Korea, and Hawaii, and acted as aide-de-camp to several generals.

After the military, Thad “roamed” the Pacific Northwest, operated his father’s Texas cattle ranch, nearly lost his life in a hurricane navigating a 64-foot yaw from Hawaii to California, and broke a leg skiing in Sun Valley, before heading to Venezuela, where he settled down, married in 1963, and raised his family. He worked in financial services, real estate, and family businesses, including his wife’s fashion-design enterprise.

His son, Thaddeus, wrote that his father’s favorite hobbies were riding, riflery, and sailing. He added that his father was a proud Princetonian who did not hesitate to share memories of his undergraduate years.

Our sympathy goes to Thad’s wife, Ana Julia Cordero; their four children; and 13 grandchildren.