Neal Tompkins was many things. He was a son, a brother, a friend and a student; he was also one of the funniest people many of the students in Hingham have ever met. Neal had a gift for making people smile, which was probably because when he wasn’t smiling himself, he was making some hilarious face trying to get others to laugh. Now, in remembering him, Neal is still able to make people smile, because every person whose life he touched has a funny story tucked in his or her memory in which Neal plays a starring role.

A member of the Hingham High School graduating class of 2015, Neal had been an involved member of the school for all four years. He was an active member in the Hingham Drama Club, participating in almost every show as a backstage crew member. Going above and beyond each year, he also traveled with the Drama Club to the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Festival Competition- supporting and participating in the program at events held outside of the High School as well.

Additionally, Neal was a member of the Hingham Robotics Team. He and the group won the Rookie Inspiration Award during its first year, an award presented to first year robotics teams that are exemplary models for other novice teams. The team also won the Northeastern University District Event Competition at Northeastern University this past year. Fellow Robotics Team member William Lincoln commented saying that “Neal played a crucial leadership role in both years involved in the program.”

After graduating, Neal was preparing to attend the University of Arizona this fall to study environmental sciences. He was spending his summer as a counselor at Camp Burgess in the town of Sandwich on Cape Cod. Neal attended the camp for many years, playing the different roles of a camper, counselor in training, and junior counselor, which was his role this summer. Prior to his sudden death, Neal had not been feeling well and he visited the camp nurse with complaints of a sore throat and headache. On the morning of July 22nd, he was found unresponsive in his bunk. Word spread quickly, and his family and the Hingham community are left devastated at the loss of such a bright, caring, amazing person.

The e

xact cause of his tragic death is still being investigated, but the community already pulled together in support of him and his family. The Class of 2015 already began planning a donation to the school in Neal’s memory, which will be decided upon and announced at a later time. The class also organized a gathering in Neal’s memory on Friday, July 25th. The recently graduated class, along with other students and members of the town, met at the Hingham Bathing Beach at six p.m., each person with a balloon in hand. After a beautiful poem read by Neal’s close friend Luke Haney, the community released their balloons together in celebration of Neal’s life.

On

Tuesday, July 28th, Hingham High School will be open from twelve to four with counselors and community members willing to listen and talk in order to help anyone struggling with the grieving process. The wake is the same day, from four to eight, at Keohane Funeral Home in Hingham. All are welcome to come show their support and love for Neal and his family. The funeral is the following day at Resurrection Church on Main Street in Hingham. The service begins at ten thirty.