Obituary for Michael Linida Johnson
Michael Johnson, 71, of East Windsor, CT, passed away peacefully on December 7th, 2020.
Born in Knoxville, TN, his mother moved he and his older sister up from Jim Crow south to East Windsor, CT. He is predeceased by his mother Matilda, father Amos, older sister Jessie-Andrea, and younger sister Moneka. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Doreen, his daughter Michelle, as well as Doreen’s children, Heidi and Todd, and their children, Shanel, Ethan, Shane, and Liam, all of whom he loved as if they were his own; his sister Matilda, brother Samuel, and a large extended family.
In addition to being a proud Marine, serving our country 1968-1972, his educational pursuits and and professional drive provided him with two successful career paths in his life, first Hospital IT Operations for the Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, Sarasota Palms/Manatee Palms, Sarasota, FL, and later as Financial Controller and General Manager for Hilton, retiring from Hilton in 2019.
Equal to his professional drive was his passion for all things outdoors or sports related. He was a natural athlete and excelled at any sport he decided to take on - Basketball, Bowling, Fishing, Golf, Racquetball, Soccer, Tennis. He was a long time member of the Broad Brook angling club, and during fishing season could be found many mornings before work at the club’s stream, or as he called it “going to church before work”. He loved the ocean and was an avid SCUBA diver, with hundreds of dives under his belt. Camping was another favorite past time of his, and he and his wife spent the past couple of traveling with their camping trailer to various locations, as well as renting cabins in the Smokey Mountains for family reunions.
The Dallas Cowboys were his lifelong football team of choice, and he could be seen wearing head-to-toe Cowboys gear on game day. Also important to mention that rarely would a UCONN basketball game go either unwatched or unattended by him.
Forever the altruist, Michael believed in the importance of helping others and giving back to the community. He coached and refereed several youth teams throughout his adult life. You name it, he probably coached it. Other volunteering efforts included being a member of the JayCees of CT, sitting on the planning board for the early years of the Greater Hartford Open, organizing local community events and a long term member of and contributor to the ACLU.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society, ACLU, or Autism Speaks in his honor.
Born in Knoxville, TN, his mother moved he and his older sister up from Jim Crow south to East Windsor, CT. He is predeceased by his mother Matilda, father Amos, older sister Jessie-Andrea, and younger sister Moneka. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Doreen, his daughter Michelle, as well as Doreen’s children, Heidi and Todd, and their children, Shanel, Ethan, Shane, and Liam, all of whom he loved as if they were his own; his sister Matilda, brother Samuel, and a large extended family.
In addition to being a proud Marine, serving our country 1968-1972, his educational pursuits and and professional drive provided him with two successful career paths in his life, first Hospital IT Operations for the Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, Sarasota Palms/Manatee Palms, Sarasota, FL, and later as Financial Controller and General Manager for Hilton, retiring from Hilton in 2019.
Equal to his professional drive was his passion for all things outdoors or sports related. He was a natural athlete and excelled at any sport he decided to take on - Basketball, Bowling, Fishing, Golf, Racquetball, Soccer, Tennis. He was a long time member of the Broad Brook angling club, and during fishing season could be found many mornings before work at the club’s stream, or as he called it “going to church before work”. He loved the ocean and was an avid SCUBA diver, with hundreds of dives under his belt. Camping was another favorite past time of his, and he and his wife spent the past couple of traveling with their camping trailer to various locations, as well as renting cabins in the Smokey Mountains for family reunions.
The Dallas Cowboys were his lifelong football team of choice, and he could be seen wearing head-to-toe Cowboys gear on game day. Also important to mention that rarely would a UCONN basketball game go either unwatched or unattended by him.
Forever the altruist, Michael believed in the importance of helping others and giving back to the community. He coached and refereed several youth teams throughout his adult life. You name it, he probably coached it. Other volunteering efforts included being a member of the JayCees of CT, sitting on the planning board for the early years of the Greater Hartford Open, organizing local community events and a long term member of and contributor to the ACLU.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society, ACLU, or Autism Speaks in his honor.