John Alfred Johnson, 66, of Edgecomb, died Jan. 11 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass.
He was born in Marlborough, Mass. on Aug. 25, 1944, son of Carl and Rose (Pessolano) Johnson.
John graduated from Marlborough High School in Marlborough, Mass. He entered the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War where he was exposed to Agent Orange. He married Judith Seymour, and was employed at the Marlborough Enterprise as a reporter and city editor. He was subsequently employed at the Cape Cod Times, where he earned many press association awards for his writing and business editing, for 10 years before moving to Maine.
On Nov. 30, 1985 he married Gretchen V. Burleigh and they resided in Edgecomb. He was also employed as an editor for the Times Record, Portland Press Herald, the Kennebec Journal, and was a feature writer for the Bangor Daily News. He was employed for several years in the Maine Office of Tourism where he took care of press relations and group tour marketing. In semi-retirement he owned and operated PKO Communications.
John recently served as a selectman for the Town of Edgecomb. He was a member of the New England Press Association and a graduate of the Business Editor’s College, American Newspaper Institute, Reston, Va.
A man of quick wit and a voluminous reader, John also enjoyed spending time with his wife and children and traveling.
He was predeceased by a sister, Louise Johnson Cooper on March 21, 1992.
He is survived by his wife, Gretchen V. Burleigh-Johnson of Edgecomb; sons, Patrick Johnson of Attleboro, Mass. and Oleg Johnson of Bath; daughter, Karen Keeler and husband Owen of Ripon, Wis.; sister, Katherine Johnson Novia of Marlborough, Mass.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Celebration of life will be held in the summer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the International Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation, 3932D Swift Rd., Sarasota, FL 34231, or the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, PO Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556.
Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High St., Bath.