Jean And Dwight Johnson

Jean Johnson, 95, of Basking Ridge, NJ, and South Londonderry, VT reunites with her heavenly husband, Dwight A Johnson of Basking Ridge, NJ.

Jean Johnson, aged 95, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 10th, in South Londonderry, Vermont, where she lived with her daughter Linda Metcalfe and family. Jean was born on May 6, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of the late Mary and Vito Fratello. She grew up in a vibrant, predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn.  Being one of the few Catholics on the block, she remembers loving matzo ball soup and helping the Jewish men and women during the Sabbath.

Jean earned her BA in Elementary Education from Hunter College in Manhattan and began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher in Hempstead, Long Island. On March 25, 1951, she married her loving husband, Dwight Johnson, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooklyn Heights, NY. They eventually settled in New Jersey, where Jean devoted her early years to raising their four children. She returned to teaching in the 1980s.  She was a creative, dedicated teacher, who was adored by her students and their parents.  Jean will be remembered as a strong woman who loved raising her family, watching her grandchildren grow, and was admired for her love of teaching.

Jean and Dwight shared over 60 years of marriage and were inseparable until Dwight’s passing on July 20, 2011. Dwight was born on March 3, 1928, in Storm Lake, Iowa, and raised in Fountain City, WI, the only child of the late Ardath and Mahlon H. Johnson. Dwight often reminisced about his childhood, including growing up in and around his parents’ print shop, which inspired his book, Fountain City May Have Talkie Shows, still available at the Fountain City Historical Society.

Dwight graduated first in his class at Fountain City High School and earned a journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin in1949. He went on to become a public relations writer and manager for AT&T, Bell Laboratories, and New Jersey Bell, where he worked for 33 years. He served as the editor of the Wisconsin Alumni magazine and was a ruling elder at his church for many years. He loved tending to his vegetable garden, spending time with his family and friends, and was an avid runner.   He was known for his sharp intellect, kind nature, and witty sense of humor.

Jean and Dwight were predeceased by their infant daughter, Laura Jean Johnson, and Jean’s sister, Fran Musacchio. They are survived by their children: Dwight Johnson, Nancy Campbell, Linda Ann Metcalfe, and Kim Einloth, as well as their sons- and daughter-in-law: Verna Johnson, Jeff Campbell, Tom Metcalfe, and Eric Einloth. Jean and Dwight were proud grandparents to Tom Johnson, Becky Johnson, Beth Campbell, James Campbell, Sarah Campbell, Ryan Metcalfe, Robert Metcalfe, Catherine Metcalfe, Christopher Metcalfe, Evan Einloth, Aimee Einloth, grand-daughters-in-laws, Jessie Metcalfe, Paige Johnson, and great-grandchild Halle Johnson.

The family will hold a private interment and memorial service honoring both Jean and Dwight at Glebeview Cemetery in South Londonderry, VT, followed by a gathering at the Metcalfe home to share memories and celebrate their lives.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in their memory may be made to the University of Wisconsin, where Jean and Dwight first met, or to the following non-profits:

- Kalmiaclub.org (Jean Johnson High School Scholarship Memorial Fund)

- Neighborhood Connections, Londonderry, VT