John passed away peacefully at his home in Poway, CA on September 11, 2012 following a courageous battle with GBM cancer. At his side was his loving wife of 35 years Linda, his oldest daughter Janine and mother in law Myriam Hume.
John was born on June 1, 1957 in San Francisco, CA at Mt. Zion Hospital to longtime Pacificans Marvin and Diane Hadley-Johnson. He was born on a Saturday afternoon as his father was watching (and waiting) a baseball game. This must be why John was such an avid Giants fan. He moved to Pacifica with his parents on February 1, 1958 and lived here until he entered the United States Air Force in 1977.
John attended school in the Laguna Salada School District, and entered Terra Nova High School where he graduated in 1975. While at Terra Nova, he played football and ran track. When playing football he wore No. 43, the number of his favorite defensive back on the Washington Redskins. In track he ran the mile relay and the hurdles, setting a school record in the Intermediates that can never be beaten as the race was eliminated from competition. He earned a MVP title and set three TN records in the high hurdles his senior year (which cost his father a new pair of track shoes each time). In order to participate in sports, he overcame a disability of his feet. His mother and brother Mike provided physical therapy and John wore corrective shoes for many years.
After entering the Air Force and completing basic training, he was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ. He then married his high school sweetheart Linda Hume (Terra Nova 1976). They settled and bought their first home. Their first daughter Janine Antoinette was born in 1979. John attended Pima Community College and received his AA degree. This and all other education was done on a time table that only allowed him to attend classes at night. Later he earned his BS degree from San Diego State in Computer Science. Complicating this were his moves for employment from Tucson, AZ to Denver, CO to Mira Mesa to Poway, CA. During this time, a second daughter was born in 1987, Christine Monet.
John was a strong, disciplined man showing leadership qualities and determination. He became an Eagle Scout with two palms at age 17. His abilities would lead him to become a Vice President and Manager of Trust Technology at Union Bank, where managed staff in multiple offices, based in San Diego, San Francisco and the Los Angeles area. He was well respected in his field and by his colleagues and employees alike.
John is survived by his wife Linda, daughters Janine (Ken Jordan) and Christine, parents, Marvin and Diane Hadley-Johnson, brothers Michael (Terry) and Scot, (Fiancé, Merrie), brother-in-laws Larry and Rick Hume and including numerous extended family.
John's wife Linda and daughters provided a "Celebration of Life" Reception Sunday, Oct. 21, in Poway (San Diego). Details on website Caringbridge.com under John "The Duke" Johnson.
On Monday Oct. 22, John was laid to rest with Military Honors at Miramar National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to:
Dr. Santosh Kesari's Brain Tumor Research Fund @ UC San Diego
In honor of: John S. Johnson, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, MC0819, La Jolla, CA 92093-0819, (858) 822-7524. Website info: ucsd.edu/about/Pages/online-giving.aspx
Editor's note: Due to some accidental omissons Mr. Johnson's obituary is being reprinted.