Gary Thomson, 66, died of respiratory failure on Feb. 26, 2009.

Gary, the son of Sam and Evelyn Thomson, grew up in Manhasset and graduated from Manhasset High School in 1961. He earned degrees from Wesleyan University in 1965 and Columbia Business School in 1967. After working at Smith-Barney in New York City, Gary moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he owned the Tivoli Gardens Restaurant. For the next 32 years Gary owned and operated the restaurant, which he sold in 2007.

His college band, Gary and the Wombats, played throughout the Northeast in the '60s, including some memorable performances at Publicans Pub in Manhasset. The band continued to play from time-to-time, and, more recently, Gary played nightly at his Tivoli Gardens Restaurant.

Gary is survived by his wife, Martha, of St. Croix; his sister, Jeanne, of Somers, NY; and his cousin, John B. Thomson Jr. of Sands Point. A reception in memory of Gary will be held at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club on April 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. All are welcome.