Megan Thompson, opera singer, marketing, and public relations professional, died Thursday, February 24, 2022, in North Carolina. She was 34 years old.

Born Megan Elizabeth Thompson in Gainesville, Florida on July 4, 1987, her earliest hobbies were synchronized swimming, theater, and opera singing. She was passionate about her education and started college courses at age 16. Megan graduated with honors from the College of Central Florida with an Associate of Arts degree in Drama, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from Stetson University in 2010, and graduated with a Master of Music, Opera Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2014. Her professional life was spent working for non-profit organizations, most recently as the Director of External Relations at Eliza Bryant Village and as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Cleveland Opera Theater. As a trained mezzo soprano, Megan’s favorite opera to perform was Carmen, a French opera where the mezzo soprano lead vocalist is a passionate bohemian. Throughout her career, she directed a number of productions and performances, including David Conte's The Gift of the Magi with Great Lakes Light Opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Cleveland Opera Theater, Lend Me a Tenor with the East-Cleveland-Theater, La Vida Breve with Great Lakes Light Opera, and The Medium with the Great Lakes Light Opera. She springboarded the organization’s #OperaforAll outreach initiative, adult and youth opera education programs, and pre-show and #Opera101 engagement talks.

Megan was tremendously involved in her community and regularly volunteered at many non-profit organizations. As part of the Board of Young Professionals at the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Megan helped to foster literacy and promote a love of reading by providing books to underprivileged children. She hosted numerous community book drives and book sorting events. She expressed her passion for the cause and love for Dr. Seuss in the Cleveland Playhouse’s annual Festival of Trees event last year where she decorated a holiday tree in the organization’s honor. She also served as Vice President of the Keel-haulers Canoe Club where she helped organize boating adventures, find gear for new members, and introduce people to the outdoors and sport of white water river kayaking. Megan also volunteered at Neighborhood Pets Outreach & Resource Center where she spent her free time finding homes for abandoned and stray cats. Megan made it a personal mission to rescue black cats, as they are often the least likely to find a home. She herself adopted many of these beloved fur babies.

Megan is survived by her grandmother Betty Veccia, brothers Matt and Ben Gillum, her boyfriend Kevin Davis, her longtime friend Charles Lemon, her cherished kittens, and countless friends whom she regarded as family.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held Saturday, March 12, 2022, between 1-4pm at the Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland East/Mayfield Village, 700 Beta Drive, Cleveland, Ohio, 44143. Keel-haulers Canoe Club is organizing a kayak and paddle at 10:00am on Sunday, March 13, 2022 at the Lower Yough boater’s lot in Mill Run, PA. Post-river run, there will be a gathering at Fallingwater barn to share food and memories from 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers or cards, memorial contributions may be made to the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank or physical books may be brought to the Cleveland memorial service for donation.

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