William J. "Bill" Thomsen passed away on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018 in Torrington, Conn., at the age of 64, after a long illness. Born in Lewiston, Maine on Dec. 31, 1953, to the late Elwyn and Ruth Thomsen, he moved with his family to Barrington in 1957 where he spent his childhood and graduated from Barrington High School in 1971. 

Bill was multi-talented and resourceful, with a musical ear and an artistic eye. During his youth, he was a member of the acclaimed Barrington Boys Choir, which provided an opportunity to develop his natural love of music. In 1965, he traveled and performed with the choir during a 6-week concert tour of Europe where they placed fourth in the annual International Musical Eisteddfod competition in North Wales. He was a student of classical piano, keyboard player in a neighborhood garage band, and accompanist on organ and piano for local churches.    

Bill had a curious and adventurous spirit that carried him across the country and back after high school, including a stay in Alaska where he worked on the king crab boats on Kodiak Island. He also studied liberal arts and music at Hartwick College, Wittenberg College, and Barrington College and spent a memorable semester studying and traveling in India. 

In the 1970s, Bill was employed as a technical engineer by Rhode Island-based Electron Fusion Devices (EFD), where he served in several capacities and traveled widely. He spent time in Russia and Japan developing new international customers and gaining an appreciation of varied cultures. Later he continued his career as a field representative for the southern New England region of Telecom Plus, Inc.  

An accomplished carpenter, Bill was often involved in a range of construction projects. From building log cabins to helping construct his brother's house, Bill always contributed his skills, friendship, and good humor to the tasks at hand.

He spent several happy and productive years at the Mountainside Treatment Center in Canaan, Conn., initially as a patient, and later as a staff member and carpenter. He took great satisfaction and pride in his work at Mountainside, leading the renovation of the facility’s original conference center. 

Bill was an avid reader and collector of interesting objects and antiques. He also loved the natural world, a joy nurtured during childhood hikes in the White Mountains of NH with his father and brothers. Come springtime each year, he would find room to plant a garden wherever he found himself, including a sidewalk garden of cherry tomatoes and flowers at his last home in Torrington, Conn.

Bill was a sensitive soul who cherished beauty in the world around him and contributed to that world in many ways. He was witty, kind, loving, beloved, and will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Bill is survived by four siblings: Carl Thomsen of Chevy Chase, Md., Paula Dalessio of Boxford, Mass., Jane Thomsen of Harvard, Mass., and David Thomsen of Wakefield, RI, as well as three nephews, four nieces, one grand-nephew, and two grand-nieces. A private burial will be held in Barrington.