Deacon Robert E. Thomson, aged 85, of New Milford, formerly of Edgewater, NJ, went home to God the Father on Saturday, May 16.

Known affectionately as “Deacon Bob” or “Deak”, Robert was born in Teaneck, NJ to the late Erwin Fred Thomson and Helen (nee Bodkin) Thomson. He was raised in Bergen County and attended Bergen County Technical High School until the age of 17, at which point he enlisted in the Army. During his time in the service, he earned his GED. Following his discharge, Robert joined New York Telephone and ultimately retired from the General Managers’ Staff of NYNEX (now Verizon) in New York City at the age of 57. After retirement, he contributed his skills by maintaining the phone lines at CNBC and Telemundo in Fort Lee.

He was ordained a permanent deacon on December 17, 1978 by Archbishop Peter Leo Gerety at the Cathedral Basilica of Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey. Upon ordination, he was assigned to St. John the Evangelist in Bergenfield, where he and his family were living. In 1989, the family moved to Edgewater and he was re-assigned to his childhood parish of the Church of the Holy Rosary in Edgewater, where he served until 2024, when his health began to decline.

Before his illness, Deacon Bob was an active member and past Commander of the American Legion in Edgewater, and he held the position of Chaplain for the Edgewater Fire Department. Additionally, he was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks Club.

He was predeceased in 2025 by his beloved wife, Jean O’Brien Thomson, with whom he shared 61 wonderful years of marriage. He is also predeceased by his parents, Fred and Helen Thomson; his sisters and brothers-in-law: Robert and Patricia Allison and Albert and Mildred Wollerman; and his brother, Peter A. Thomson.

He is survived by his loving children, Robert B. Thomson and Laurie Mallon, Jennifer and Terence McGean, and William Thomson, along with his cherished grandchildren, Joseph, Erin, and Morgan. He is also remembered by many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will held on Saturday, May 23 at 10 AM at the Church of the Holy Rosary, located at 365 Undercliff Avenue, Edgewater, NJ. Interment will follow the Mass at Madonna Cemetery in Fort Lee, NJ.