loading
ObituariesIn Remembrance: Frederick Frank Johnson ’56MDiv Died on November 15 2013Frederick Frank Johnson died November 15, 2013, in Naples, Florida. As an ordained Episcopal priest, he served congregations in the diocese of New York until his retirement in 1995, then took up teaching and dabbled in politics. An obituary is posted at the Fuller Funeral Home website. |
|
1 comment
Print
Email
1 remembrance
Frederick Frank Johnson ’56 B.D.
Frederick Frank Johnson, known generally as Fred, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 23, 1931. He grew up in Tulsa where he attended Will Rogers High School. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with an A.B. in Letters, and in 1956 from Yale University Divinity School, receiving the B.D./M.Div degree.
Ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church, he began ministry as curate for two years at Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven. From there he was called as a curate to St. James Church, Greenfield, Massachusetts. In 1960 he became rector at St. Paul's, a historic church at Spring Valley, Rockland County, in the Diocese of New York. There he served ”in a rich and varied ministry” until his retirement in 1995.
Under Bishop Paul Moore, Fred served in the Diocese of New York on several task forces. Nationally, he was appointed to the Standing Commission by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and In 1969 he was invited to become a Fellow by the College of Preachers at the Washington [D.C.] National Cathedral.
In 1968 The Rev. Mr. Johnson was invited to teach philosophy in Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, serving until his retirement, having also taught modem European History at Rockland Country Day School for several years.
Fred was “very active” in the political life of Rockland County. He ran for Representative of the 26th Congressional District, but was narrowly defeated in the 1976 primary race, and defeated again In 1978. Running for public office gave Frank new recognition as a community leader: he served on the Board of Governors of the Rockland County Health Complex, Department of Health and Hospitals, was its Vice Chairman from 1974 to 1988 and its Chairman from 1980 to 1988.
The Rev Mr. Johnson retired to Naples, Florida, in 1995. He taught philosophy at Edison Community College in Naples (now the Collier Campus of Florida Southwestern State College), and at the Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers. At Trinity by the Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, Fred remained active as a retired priest, assisting in worship, preaching occasionally, and leading bible study groups, and a Christian Culture Group.
Fred also performed valuable community service in other ways. He was on the Board of Directors for St. Matthew’s House in Naples. Founded in 1987, St. Matthew’s “strives to fight hunger, homelessness, and addiction in SW Florida” through emergency and transitional housing, feeding ministries, and substance abuse recovery programs. He served as a Trustee for the Yale Club of Southwest Florida, and was a Member of the Rotary Club of Naples. An avid tennis player and coach, Fred served as President and Director on the Master Board of the World Tennis Center in Naples. Fred also wrote poetry.
Frederick Frank Johnson died November 15, 2013, in Naples, Florida. He was survived by his wife, Rev. Joan Cottrell Johnson, his brother Victor Johnson, three grown children (Burr, Fred, and Celia Johnson), four grandchildren (Lyra, Sarah, Ben and Ethan), and his step-children: Pamela Shier and Karen Chrisman.
SOURCES:
http://ydsconvocation.yale.edu/1956-60th-reunion-class [His individual picture within 1956 class composite].
Yale Alumni Magazine / Obituaries, “In Remembrance:” Frederick Frank Johnson ’56MDiv” at https://yalealumnimagazine.com/obituaries/1445-frederick-frank-johnson-56mdiv
Fuller Funeral Home, Naples, FL., Rev. Frederick F. Johnson, April 23, 1931 - November 15, 2013, at http://www.fullernaples.com/obituaries/Frederick-Johnson7/#!/Obituary
Will Rogers High School Yearbook, 1947, Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012