Susan Thompson

May 26, 1951 – December 1, 2012

      Susan Thompson, proud mother of two sons, and loving mother, teacher and mentor to countless others through her school, Bainbridge Dance Center, passed away gently on the night of Saturday December 1st. Through her steadfast devotion as a teacher and business owner, Bainbridge Dance Center has flourished as a place dedicated to excellent instruction in classical ballet, modern, tap and jazz, but also as an institution dedicated to the self esteem and self respect of all who attend class there.  

      Raised in Delaware, Ohio, Susan was the daughter of a college music professor and an elementary school teacher, who instilled in her and her sister a deep love for the arts.

      Before moving to Bainbridge Island with her family in 1986, she attended Mt. Holyoke College, danced professionally with Dance Circle of Boston, the New York / Dance Ensemble and Southwest Ballet, where she was also company manager.

      Susan was a fierce lover and advocate of animals, donating to animal rescue organizations and always stopping the car if

an animal seemed out of place or hurt; she had a life long love of cats. 

      Susan was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in early 2008, and chose to pursue chemotherapy. She went into remission several times over the subsequent four and a half years, and frequently continued to work while she was in treatment. She also enthusiastically traveled during this time, often to see her family, taking multiple trips to New York, Boston, Southern California, and a particularly memorable trip to Italy.  

      Susan’s love of craft, her compassion and commitment to fostering not only talent, but intelligence and creativity, has been, and continues to be, a force for good in the lives of many young women and men. Bainbridge Dance Center, under the leadership of BryAnn Bingham, will honor Susan’s legacy by continuing forward with its ethos of excellence and integrity.

      Susan is survived by her loving sister, Kay Thompson, her two proud sons, Quinlan and Wesley Corbett, and the many other relatives, friends, students, and colleagues who had the privilege of knowing her. 

      There will be a public memorial service and tribute at Bainbridge Performing Arts on Sunday, January 6th at 1 pm.

      Donations in her honor can be made to one of the following organizations:

      West Sound Wildlife Shelter 7501 NE Dolphin Drive Bainbridge Island, WA 98110. www.westsoundwildlife.org.

      Friends of Bainbridge Dance Center P.O. Box 10338, Bainbridge Island, 98110.

TRIBUTE Paid Notice