Dennis F. Thompson

Dennis Frank Thompson passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025, at Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough, NH, as a result of prostate cancer. Dennis was a man of extraordinarily high professional and intellectual achievement, whose genuine love and caring for those around him made a profound impact on the lives of many, from his family, to students and colleagues, to the medical staff who cared for him.

Dennis was born in Hamilton, Ohio, on Mother’s Day, May 12, 1940, to Frank and Florence Thompson. First in his family to attend college, he graduated summa cum laude from the College of William and Mary in 1962. After graduating, Dennis was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study at Balliol College, Oxford University, where he earned a “first” in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Dennis went on to complete a Ph.D. in political science at Harvard in 1968.

After finishing his Ph.D., Dennis accepted a position as an assistant professor at Princeton University. After teaching political science and ethics at Princeton for 18 years, in 1986 Dennis was appointed as the founding director of the University Center for Ethics and the Professions (now the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics) at Harvard University. The center was the first of its kind at Harvard, a university-wide program to bring together professionals in law, government, business, and medicine to study and discuss the intersection of theory and practice. At the same time, he was appointed as the Alfred North Whitehead Professor of Political Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and a Professor of Public Policy in the John F. Kennedy School of Government. In his Harvard career, he served as Associate Provost and Senior Adviser to the President of the University and twice acted as Provost on an interim basis.

Dennis shared his professional expertise widely, consulting with the Joint Ethics Committee of the South African Parliament, the American Medical Association, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Health and Human Services, the White House Office of General Counsel, and the Senate Ethics Committee. The latter involved helping with the investigation of the so-called “Keating Five”, a major 1989 corruption scandal implicating 5 U.S. Senators. Dennis also served for ten years as a member of the Board of Trustees of Smith College, the last five as vice-chair.

Dennis authored and collaborated on numerous critically acclaimed books and articles, including The Democratic Citizen: Social Science and Democratic Theory in the 20th Century; Just Elections: Creating a Fair Electoral Process in the U.S.; and The Spirit of Compromise: Why Governing Demands It and Campaigning Undermines It (co-authored with Amy Gutmann). For more in-depth information about Dennis’ academic background and achievements, there is also an In Memoriam on the Harvard Ethics Center website, available here. 

Dennis knew his wife-to-be, Carol Joslyn, as a fellow student at Hamilton High School. But it wasn't until the summer of 1960 when they were home from college that they found an immediate and lasting connection. Dennis and Carol were married in Oxford, England in June of 1963. Their son Eric was born in January of 1965, and brother David in November of 1966.

Dennis enjoyed sharing his love of music, intellectual discussion, and great food and wine with his family and friends. He prioritized and cherished time with Carol and his sons, taking family trips and playing music with Eric and David. Beginning in 1992, when they built a second home on Frost Pond in Jaffrey, NH, Dennis and Carol spent much of their time in Jaffrey. The property — later including a writer’s cabin for Dennis that Eric (an architect) designed for his father — became the beloved homestead for all, which it remains today.

Dennis is survived by Carol, his devoted wife of 62 years, his sons Eric and David and their spouses Mary and Molly, and by three granddaughters, Macy, Juno (nee Carson), and Liza, all of whom he left with a lifetime of fond memories of a wise, funny, and inspiring man.

In lieu of flowers, the Thompson family has established the Dennis F. Thompson Fellowship in Ethics at Harvard University to honor Dennis' memory by supporting future graduate students in the field of ethics. Those who wish to contribute to the Fellowship may do so by check or credit card.

To donate by check, mail to:
Harvard University Alumni & Development Services
PO Box 419209
Boston, MA 02241-9209

Please note on the check’s memo line:
Fund 625807 - Dennis F. Thompson Fellowship in Ethics Fund

To donate by credit card:
• Go to the Harvard Alumni Community donation page by clicking this link
• Select “Faculty of Arts and Sciences” in the “select a school/affiliate” dropdown
• Choose “Other – FAS” in the “Select a Fund” dropdown
• Include the following in the “Other Fund Name” comment box: Fund 625807 - Dennis F. Thompson Fellowship in Ethics Fund