Joseph A. Thompson, 63, longtime educator and mentor

JOSEPH A. THOMPSON

Joseph A. Thompson, a longtime educator and mentor to high school students, died Nov. 14 of heart failure. He was 63 and lived in Dorchester.

Mr. Thompson was the student support coordinator at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in Boston. He was a key leader in a program that helps at-risk teenagers.

"He took the youths of Boston and helped turn around their life and helped them become successful," said his son, Kurt of Fitchburg.

His cousin Ekua Holmes of Boston, remembers some of Mr. Thompson's efforts with the program.

"If you were one of 'Joe's kids,' you were certain to get the help you needed to go to college or solve personal and social problems," she said. "He would use his personal resources to drive students to test sites and college tours."

One student whom he helped was Jennifer Watts, who became acquainted with Mr. Thompson in 1986 through the Youth at Risk Program. Watts is now a lawyer in Georgia.

"He was just all around my life coach," Watts said. "He was there to help me with everything. He would offer guidance and assistance at every stage."

He retired in 2006 after 38 years in the Boston public school system.

Mr. Thompson was born and reared in Boston. He attended Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in Virginia, graduating in 1966 with a bachelor of science degree in teacher education.

Mr. Thompson earned a law degree from Northeastern University in 1976.

He held many positions in the law and education fields.

Mr. Thompson was a Mason and a member of the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Dorchester. Until recently, Mr. Thompson was enrolled in classes to earn a divinity degree to become a pastor.

In addition to his son and cousin, Mr. Thompson leaves his mother, Mary L. Branch of Boston; two sisters, Phyllis L. Bell of Atlanta and Emma "Queenie" Emma of Boston; two brothers, Richard L. of Augusta, Ga., and Horace Bowden of Boston; his former wife, Beverly Taylor; his special friend, Barbara Pittman of Boston; and one grandson.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Davis Funeral Home in Roxbury.