Certified Nursing Assistant

Staff spotlight on Bereavement Coordinator Jack Thompson. Posted on Monday August 10, 2026 Carefully caring for the bereaved in Dayton. When Bereavement Coordinator Jack Thompson arrived at Crossroads in Dayton three years ago, he was already an experienced end-of-life care professional well versed in caring for the bereaved. Now the sole site Bereavement Coordinator, Jack brings a depth of knowledge, sensibility and empathy to his post. Jack's robust professional journey in hospice care began when he completed his Master of Arts in Applied Theology degree. That was after majoring in chemistry as an undergraduate. "A creative side and a detail-oriented side," are how Jack describes himself and why being a Bereavement Coordinator suits him so well. He handles the stress of high administrative demands beautifully and prides himself on meticulously "dotting the Is and crossing the Ts." At the same time he can creatively devise "new solutions to interesting problems," Jack said. This "serves me well in this job" as he cares for hundreds of bereaved families, keeping "many balls in the air." Being present and conjuring positive memories. "People's hearts are most open during grief," Jack said. "During grief, they are centered and present." For Jack, this "is a great opportunity to serve," explaining, for many families they grieve not only the loss of their loved one but also the loss of the wonderful hospice team who becomes a part of their daily lives, sharing its most intimate, fragile moments. Acknowledging that sadness is part of being human, Jack provides comfort and caring. That is his only goal. "No client cultivation. No billing." These are reasons the role is a perfect fit for Jack. Jack likens the Bereavement Coordinator role to non-denominational ministerial and spiritual advocacy combined with a "quasi mental health role." He's particularly cognizant of how individuals tap their spirituality and "experience the holy." "I love to hear people's stories." Jack said as he shared how he stirs up "positive memories" of better times long ago. He mentioned a couple who met when a young man, who was making prank calls to a rival high school, started talking to the girl who answered the phone. They made plans to meet at the football game and the rest is history. Then, there was the gentleman who had a crush on a young lady working at the blood bank. In his pursuit of her, he became a frequent donor. The bulk of Jack's career was spent working in hospice care in Portland, Oregon. After a brief stint teaching English in southern Italy, Jack was recruited to Crossroads in Dayton where he has been thriving ever since. The reason? Everyday Jack "gets to say the right things while avoiding the pitfalls of dismissing someone's pain."

As National Veteran and Military Families Month gets underway, Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care is rolling out its new Military Challenge Coin.