Jack George Thompson Sr. (Tagaloa), Respected Leader In Samoan Village

Growing up in the U.S. Territory of Samoa, Jack George Thompson Sr. (Tagaloa) dreamed of traveling stateside.

It was not for himself, but to help support relatives and send all his future children to college.

With much struggle and sacrifice, he succeeded on all counts. It took several decades, but he managed to bring his family to Seattle, work as a Boeing machinist, and support his children's college education.

He even earned the honorary Samoan title of "Tagaloa" for "high talking-chief" like his native-Samoan father. A Tagaloa is someone who leads ceremonies and gives advice for the village.

"It is a great honor, which was bestowed on him in 1985 by the community," said his daughter Margaret Tausala Thompson-Fanene of Puyallup. "You have to speak Samoan, be a good, responsible person, and have the wherewithal to travel to Samoa to officiate at ceremonies and give advice. It often comes down from father to son because of the way the son is raised. But not always. You have to earn it."

Mr. Thompson died Aug. 6 of lung cancer. He was 65.

He was born in Utulei, Tutuila, in Samoa.

Thompson-Fanene said she had not realized until she began assembling material for his memorial services how much her father had sacrificed for his dreams.

"He gave up his job as a police officer in 1956, scraped up the money for a boat ride to San Francisco, then worked his way to Seattle and worked odd jobs until he could send for my mother and then their children," she said. "They lived in a garage behind the house of a friend until they saved enough to live on their own. For awhile he worked hefting boxes and appliances for an appliance warehouse."

Mr. Thompson in 1964 helped found Seattle's First Samoan Christian Congregational Church. He played organ and sang in the church choir.

In 1965 he went to work for Boeing. He remained there as a machinist until 1995, when he retired. He also represented his fellow workers as a union steward.

"He had a good sense of humor," said Thompson-Fenene. "One day a grandchild was jumping on the couch. He said, `Stop that! I don't care if you break your neck. But I don't want you to wreck my couch!' "

Mr. Thompson's son Jack Thompson Jr., known as "The Throwin' Samoan," was a quarterback with Washington State University in the early 1970s and later with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Other survivors include his wife of 45 years, Salamumu Thompson of Seattle; children Edwin Thompson of Los Lunas, N.M., Katerina (Lina) Thompson of Tacoma, and Patricia Thompson of Seattle; his sisters, Anovale Suitonu of Seattle, and Victoria Salefao, Sauila Pula and Anovale Thompson, all of American Samoa; 11 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Services are at 5 p.m. today and at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Des Moines Gospel Chapel, 21914 Seventh Ave. S., Des Moines.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbeers@seattletimes.com