A Lifetime, A Legacy: Carol Thompson

Carol and her husband John.

Carol Thompson was a devoted wife, sister, aunt, teacher, and friend – and also a cheerful bartender who greeted patrons with a friendly Irish smile.

Even though she was a very familiar face in Sea Isle City for many years, Carol began her life in Levittown and Upper Darby, Pa. Then in 1978, after spending the summers of her youth in Sea Isle City, Carol and her family (her parents, Don and Peg Thompson, and her younger siblings, Donna and Mike) moved permanently to their shore home at 45th Street and Central Avenue.

Shortly after earning a degree in education at West Chester University in 1979, Carol began her well-respected career as an elementary school teacher at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Cape May. But before long, she found her “forever” job teaching at Sea Isle City’s Public School on Park Road, conveniently located just a few steps away from her family’s home on Central Avenue.

Carol would continue to teach at the Park Road school for 30 years, until the school closed due to low enrollment in 2012. During those three decades, she was known as a caring teacher who positively impacted the lives of her students and their families.

“Carol was old school,” says Tara Kutschera, whose oldest son, AJ, was one of her final third-grade students at the Sea Isle City Public School. “You could tell she loved teaching – it was her purpose in life. She knew her students very well, she was hands-on, and we loved her.”

AJ Kutschera also remembers Carol fondly: “Miss Thompson was a wonderfully caring and compassionate teacher, and I was lucky to be under her tutelage for my last year of schooling in Sea Isle. She was always there to inspire or encourage me, she helped prepare me for what was to come moving to a different school, and she never hesitated to provide me with accelerated lessons or give me the opportunity to work with topics she thought I would enjoy. She will be dearly missed.”

In addition to being a compassionate and respected educator, Carol was also loved outside of the classroom – including at KIX on 63rd Street, where she was a bartender for many summers.

“Carol was a special person to her family, friends, and all of her students,” says Mayor Leonard Desiderio, whose family has owned KIX for decades. “Everyone loved her, including my mother who thought the world of her. I will always remember Carol’s smile and her thoughtfulness.”

Carol in Sea Isle City’s 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Parade with longtime fellow co-chairperson Michael “Ace” Morrissey.

Sisters Donna Miller and Carol Thompson are flanked by Donna‘s daughters Shelley (left) and Magy, in front of Busch’s Restaurant.

Even though she was greatly admired by her students and peers, it is the members of her close-knit family who miss Carol the most – especially her beloved husband John Upshaw, her nieces and nephews, and her two siblings.

When asked what she loved most about her older sister, Donna Thompson Miller simply says, “Her company.”

Carol was only 11 months older than Donna, making the pair “Irish Twins” (as siblings in Irish families born less than a year apart are often lovingly called). Due to the timing of their birthdays, the Thompson sisters began first grade together and attended school side-by-side until they each graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1975. Along the way, the sisters went on double dates together, they attended proms together, and they created many happy memories together throughout their sisterhood.

In fact, “together” is the perfect word to describe Carol and Donna, because the pair were often seen together – including during their weekly shopping trips (which they cheerfully called “Driving Miss Daisy” outings). Moreover, they often attended community events together, and they regularly teamed up to organize countless family gatherings (including their family’s beloved Easter egg hunts and festive Christmas celebrations). The two sisters even joined the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission and VFW Post 1963’s Auxiliary simultaneously.

According to Donna, her bond with her older sibling was just as strong in their youth as it was in adulthood, and she was blessed to have a sister she could always count on and spend quality time with.

“Carol was someone you could trust to keep a secret – and she was always there for our family,” Donna adds.

Carol with her brother Mike Thompson.

Carol at one of the many outings she shared with loved ones.

Mike Thompson, who entered West Chester University as a freshman during Carol’s senior year, was happy to have his big sister nearby as he was acclimating to life on a large college campus.

“Carol was very selfless, and she was always thinking of others,” says her baby brother. “There wasn’t a holiday or other special event that went by that you didn’t get a card from her. No matter if it was Easter, Christmas, your birthday, or St. Patty’s Day, you could always bank on getting a card from Carol for sure!”

And Carol didn’t stop at simply showing affection to her family members. She also knew when a loving “push” was in order. That was the case when Mike graduated from college with a degree in accounting but wanted another fun-filled summer in Sea Isle City before launching his professional career. Knowing that all he needed was a little extra motivation, Carol and her mother took it upon themselves to draft a resumé for Mike and send it (without his knowledge) to prospective employers. When Mike started receiving phone calls from accounting firms asking to schedule job interviews, he realized it was time to join the working world full time – and so he did.

Carol (right) and family members show support for niece Magy during the 2024 Atlantic City Marathon.

Sadly, Carol Thompson died last September at the age of 68, following a courageous battle with cancer.

In addition to her thoughtfulness, dedication to family and friends, devotion to her students, admirable work ethic and love for this community, Carol was also known for taking long walks across Sea Isle City – and she was often spotted in different parts of town on foot. She also had a penchant for good books, puzzles, and stylish jewelry (often sporting rings on each finger and eye-catching earrings). Carol was also a familiar face at Sea Isle City’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade along Landis Avenue, where she served as the parade’s co-chair for more than 30 years.

To help fill the void that was created by her passing, this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade was dedicated to Carol’s memory – and numerous members of her family attended the annual “Irish Strut” on March 14 to show their love for her.

No doubt Carol’s Irish eyes were smiling down from above as the parade proceeded through town, accentuating a life that was well-lived in Sea Isle City.