Dr. John Anthony Thompson, known affectionately to all as Tony, passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at his home in Mountain Brook, Alabama, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in February 1947 in Washington, D.C., Tony spent his formative years growing up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Following high school, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. Upon his return, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned both his bachelor’s degree and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry.

Tony’s distinguished scientific career spanned nearly five decades. He first worked in Reno, Nevada, before returning to the Washington, D.C., area for positions at Bethesda Research Laboratories and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In 1989, he relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, to accept a position at UAB Medicine. For 26 years, he worked in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, where his research and dedication helped advance critical solutions for the treatment of cancer, AIDS, and other complex diseases.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Tony was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. He was deeply passionate about the sport of soccer and devoted many years of volunteer service to the Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA), where he worked tirelessly to help grow the game in his community.

Tony is survived by his wife and partner of 43 years, Robin Blau Thompson, his brother Dean and his four children: Kris, Jeremy, Max, and Alex. He was a proud grandfather to his five grandchildren: Ciara, Calen, Neko, Mills, and Mae.

In keeping with Tony’s lifelong commitment to youth sports and education, the family has requested that, in lieu of a service or flowers, donations be made to the Tony Thompson Scholarship Fund. The fund is set up to provide financial aid to young athletes to participate in soccer programs run by BUSA. All donations are tax-deductible under the BUSA nonprofit entity.

Donations may be made online at www.tonythompsonscholarshipfu….

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