Family. Country. Rush.
Three things defined Susan “Suzy” Thompson’s life, and now, together, they define the legacy her children are creating in her name.
A devoted mother and grandmother, a fiercely patriotic American and a longtime Rush volunteer, Suzy spent her life caring for the people and institutions she loved.
After nearly five decades of service on The Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center, her connection to Rush was woven deeply into her family’s life. But Suzy’s legacy of service extended far beyond her Rush volunteer work. As a realtor later in life, she often focused on helping friends’ children transition from the city to the suburbs, becoming a trusted confidante. She found fulfillment in using her talents to help others, whether through philanthropy, her career or simply being there for the people around her.
Those values stuck with her sons, Doug and Sandy Thompson, and their wives, Laura, who serves on The Woman’s Board, and Ro. When it came time to honor their mother, supporting the Road Home Program: The National Center of Excellence for Veterans and Their Families at Rush felt like a natural fit.
For Doug and Sandy, caring for those who serve also means caring for the families beside them. Through a $250,000 gift to the Road Home Program’s existing endowment, Doug and Laura, Sandy and Ro, and the Harold and Suzanne D. Falk Foundation joined the effort to build a $10 million fund that will sustain care for veterans, service members and their families for years to come by establishing the Susan F. Thompson Family Center at the Road Home Program. Their generosity reflects a shared commitment to ensuring military families have access to the support they need to heal and thrive.
“Our mom’s deep involvement with The Woman’s Board and Rush came from her love for the institution,” Sandy said. “Supporting the Road Home Program felt like a natural way to honor her and combine her three biggest passions in life: family, our country and Rush.”
A lasting commitment to military families
The endowment will provide lasting support for military families, helping the Road Home Program expand access to personalized, evidence-based mental health care and supportive services.
The program serves veterans, active-duty service members and their families through in-person and telehealth care, guided by the belief that when one person serves, the whole family serves.
Brian Klassen, PhD, director of strategic partnerships at the Road Home Program, said the Thompsons’ gift makes Suzy’s connection to Rush part of the program’s future.
"Suzy Thompson left a lasting legacy at Rush, and we are deeply grateful to Doug and Sandy for carrying it forward,” Dr. Klassen said. “Their gift to the Road Home Program’s endowment helps sustain specialized care for military families, who so often carry the unseen burdens of a loved one’s service. Their generosity will help families find support and healing for generations to come."
A debt of gratitude
Suzy’s patriotism was a defining part of who she was. Her children describe her as the most patriotic person they have ever known. She was someone who incorporated red, white and blue into every holiday and believed deeply in the ideals of the country.
Her commitment to military families was rooted in her belief that freedom comes with a debt of gratitude to those who serve. The belief became even more personal when Doug’s son, Will, became a CH-53 helicopter pilot with the U.S. Marines.
Watching his son serve brought a new perspective on the challenges facing service members and their families.
“It’s a very difficult life, and you see a lot of people struggling,” Doug said. “There’s a lot of stress that goes on for their families, too. You go to bed every night worrying about your son or daughter, wondering if you’re going to get that knock at your door. It affects the whole family when one person chooses to serve — you’re walking that path together. We owe all of them a debt that we’ve got to pay back.”
Sandy agrees.
“The idea of treating one person and not the family unit just doesn’t make sense to us,” Sandy said. “We owe it to their families, too.”
The Thompsons also wanted their mother’s legacy to endure. Sandy, who spent much of his career in healthcare investing, is a strong believer in endowment giving because it provides sustained support while allowing a family to remain connected to its philanthropic impact over time.
“What we’re doing is a drop in the ocean considering how massive the need is,” Sandy said. “But we think our mom was a unique enough person that she should be honored with something that lasts forever.”
To learn more about supporting the Road Home Program’s work to provide mental health care at no cost to veterans, active-duty service members and families, please contact Michelle Boardman, senior director of development, at michelle_a_boardman@rush.edu or (312) 942-6884. You may also make a gift online to fuel services and innovation at the Road Home Program.
