THOMPSON, ROBERT VAUGHAN, "R.V." Robert Vaughan "R.V." Thompson died peacefully at home in Woodstock, NB on March 28, 2008 in his 92nd year. Founder of R.V. Thompson Insurance and Real Estate, he was the son of the late Dr. Robert G. & Mary J. (Sharkey) Thompson. He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Mary Elizabeth (O'Neill); his sisters, Joan (in childhood), Jacqueline (John) Page, Yolande (Robert) Snow; and his brother, Victor (Gwen) Thompson. He is survived by his second wife, Marlene Flewelling; two children from his first marriage: son John & his wife Lois Cameron; daughter, Carmelita O'Neill; three grandchildren, John T., Margot, and Mary Kathleen and their father Robbie O'Neill; and a brother, Jerome "Jimmer" (Kay) Thompson. Vaughan grew up in Woodstock, attended local schools, was a graduate of Carleton County Vocational School and began his business career in the law firm of D. R. Bishop. He served during World War II as Captain in the North Shore Regiment. In 1945, he joined the Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada (now Sun Life Financial). For many years he was among Mutual Life's Top 10 Producers in Canada and in 1965, he received Mutual Life's national honor as "Outstanding Man of the Year", the only Maritimer to achieve this recognition. With exceptional sales ability and inherent enthusiasm, he also built up the successful general insurance and real estate brokerages that still bear his name. Involved in civic activities, Vaughan gave generously of his time and talent in public governance roles, particularly in health care. For almost three decades he served on the L.P. Fisher Hospital and Carleton Memorial Hospital boards, as director, and then chairman. In 1971, the New Brunswick Hospital Association (NBHA) elected him President and Chairman of the Board. A lifelong advocate of the need for growth in private sector industry and enterprise, in the 1960's, he headed the Woodstock Board of Trade, working successfully to attract industry to the area and facilitating the foundation of the Woodstock Industrial Park. He also played a leading role in numerous community drives, projects and initiatives to enhance the recreational, cultural, educational and healthcare aspects of his community. He worked tirelessly to raise funds to build Carleton County's first indoor ice arena on Island Park (in the 1940's) and later, to acquire its first artificial ice plant. He was actively involved in the establishment of the Carleton Memorial Hospital, the Carleton Memorial School of Nursing and Nurses Residence. In the 1970's he spearheaded the founding of the Milton Gregg Memorial Park in Benton. In the 1980's, he led the effort to provide Woodstock High School Theatre with a concert grand piano. This subsequently facilitated the rebirth of the Carleton County Music Festival. A later fund-raising effort was the creation of the Dr. Grace L. Caughlin Scholarship Fund for the Woodstock Community College. He believed that the Vocational School in Woodstock and more specifically the caliber of its educators had played an instrumental role in equipping individuals of his generation with superb business and excellent communication skills. Though more interested in constructive action and achieving results than in being recognized himself, he nonetheless was honored to accept the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Woodstock Rotary Club in recognition of a lifetime of generous service for the benefit of his community. Throughout his life he participated in many sports and won trophies in golf, tennis, badminton, basketball and, in the army, distance running. A skilled bridge player, he collected multiple top awards in local league tournament play. He participated in various theatric and music productions, was a member of Saint Gertrude's Choir, the Carleton Singers and often played piano for relaxation. An enthusiastic gardener, his gardens were open to the public for decades and became the background for numerous wedding and graduation photos. Gifted with a rich imagination himself, he enjoyed the company of various regional artists of note, collected their works and was a life member of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. An avid collector of quality antiques, especially of early New Brunswick origin; he was a member of the Carleton County Historical Society. Vaughan was a lifelong parishioner of St. Gertrude's Catholic Church, as a young man he joined the Holy Name Society and was awarded an honorary life membership by the Knights of Columbus.