Alan D. Johnson

FILLMORE, Calif. – Alan D. Johnson, 94, died peacefully at the Fillmore Country Club, a senior community, on Dec. 13, 2021.Al was born May 30, 1927, to Ernest E. Johnson and Esther (Thunborg) Johnson in Schenectady, N.Y. Al grew up in Scotia and enlisted in the Navy near the end of WWII. He graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in English, Journalism.Al’s professional life in journalism began as a reporter for the Capitol District Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y. It was during this time he met and married his wife of 53 years, Dorothy DeFazio Johnson. The bulk of his professional life was at General Electric Co., in Schenectady, N.Y. and Philadelphia, as Senior Publicist for the Missile and Space Program. The family relocated to the suburbs of Philadelphia in 1958. In 1972, Al, Dot and three children relocated to Manchester, Vt., purchasing a sporting goods store, and bed and breakfast; they phased out the B and B, and developed the property over the years. The move to ski country was Al’s dream, and he joined the ski patrol at Bromley Mountain. In retirement, they moved to Venice, Fla. and enjoyed many years of living in a warm climate, going to the beach, travel and visits from their children and grandchildren. They moved to Old Orchard Beach in 2003 to be closer to family. In 2004, Dot died and after her death, Al lived in South Portland and Portland for another 14 years before moving to Fillmore, Calif. in late 2018. He was again near family, and loved the return to a warm, sunny climate. The three passions that define Al are his love of reading/writing, skiing, and a good adventure! The family went skiing every weekend in the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. Al volunteered on the ski patrol, and life long friends were made at Timber Hill. The wider influence resulted in his children Alan and Karin, and their families competing in nordic and alpine skiing, achieving awards and employment. Grandson, Anders Johnson, competed in three winter olympic games in ski jumping, and Al was able to travel to two Olympics in Italy and British Columbia. Grandson, Greg Hardy, was the D1 NCAA Giant Slalom Champion at UVM in 2005, and named to UVM’s Hall of Fame in 2018. While living in Maine, Al participated in Maine Handicapped Skiing into his 80s at Sunday River. Al remained active in retirement reporting for local newspapers, and volunteering for literacy programs in Venice Fla., where the YMCA acknowledged his reporting of their program to help promote literacy in parents of young children. Al was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Ernest; and his wife, Dorothy.He is survived by his five children and their families, son, Alan and his partner Susan Shay, of Park City, Utah, daughter, Kristin and husband David Beam, of Portland, Maine, daughter, Nissa Avery and husband Mark, of Houston, Texas, daughter, Karin Hardy and her partner Don Campbell of Bondville, Vt., and son, Erik and wife Mary, of Fillmore, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.A family service will be held this summer in Evergreen Cemetery, in Portland.