Samuel A. Thompson, a sales executive at Liggett and Myers and a devoted husband and father, died on Saturday, August 18, 2012 in Massachusetts General Hospital. He was 86.

Born in New York city on February 21, 1926, the only child of Samuel R. Thompson and Edith Adele Brown, Sam was raised in the Bronx, N.Y., attended Morris High School and went on to play football at Morgan State College.

He moved to Yonkers, N.Y., where he married Mabelle Giddings in 1950, his wife of 62 years. Seven years later they moved to Greenburgh, N.Y. after the birth of the first of their four sons. He travelled nationally, working in various sales positions for the Liggett and Myers Tobacco Co. Inc. until his retirement in August 1983.

Sam had an avid knowledge and appreciation for jazz and an active interest in photography and art. His love for the ocean and fishing lured the Thompsons to purchase a summer home on Martha’s Vineyard in 1971. In 1997 he and his wife moved to the Vineyard to enjoy his remaining years in an environment he truly loved.

Along with his wife, Mabelle, Sam leaves to mourn and rejoice in his memory their devoted sons, Peter, Gordon and David; grandchildren, Austin, Nicole, Vanessa, Spencer, Sydney, Chase and Christian; and a great grandchild, James Michael, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. Their youngest son, Mark Alvin, predeceased his father in 1993.

A graveside service will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery, on Vineyard Avenue in Oak Bluffs at 2 p.m., Friday, August 24. Flowers will be received at the funeral home. Donations to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, PO Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 in memory of Samuel A. Thompson will also be welcome. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason. Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. An online guest book and additional information is available at ccgfuneralhome.