Analy High School Centennial Celebration In Memoriam

CLASS OF

CLASSMATE

1980

Lisa Collins

Lisa passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Benjamin Joseph Thornton

Gregarious and independent

Long time West County and Sebastopol resident Benjamin Joseph Thornton, 45, was struck by a car while walking home to Sebastopol on Highway 116, May 29. Developmentally disabled, but a graduate of Analy High, Thornton ran with the track team for four consecutive years, often running last but always game to run again. He was awarded a track team trophy for “Most Inspirational” runner. Thornton had many different jobs in Sebastopol, beginning with a summer janitorial job at Brookside School. He also worked at Fiesta Market and Becoming Independent. He was employed at Office Depot in Rohnert Park at the time of his death.

After leaving his parent's home on Barnett Valley Road in 1980, Thornton lived independently first in Cotati, Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park, and in Sebastopol on Palm Avenue and then at 124 South Main Street, his most recent residence.

A gregarious, independent and outgoing man, many people knew Thornton, if not by name at least by his smile and by his friendly, engaging manner.

He was an extraordinary artist, both with paint and with yarn. His expressive, visual abilities far outdistanced his other intellectual difficulties.

The accident, which was not reported by the driver for over eight hours, remains under investigation.

Thornton is survived by his father, Reese Thornton, and step-mother, Deborah Thornton, of Barnett Valley Road, Sebastopol, his mother, Joan Thornton, and sister, Molly Thornton, of Point Reyes Station, his brother, Simon, of Tahoe City, his sister, Helena, of Mendocino and his sister, Camille, of Maui, Hawaii.

He is interred at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Sebastopol. Any donations in his honor should be sent to Becoming Independent, 1425 Corporate Center Parkway, Santa Rosa, CA 95407.

IN MEMORIAM