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Carl A. Johnson

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Cornell University University at Albany

Carl Johnson Obituary

Johnson, Carl A. DELMAR Carl A. Johnson, 57, of Delmar died Tuesday, November 27, 2007. Born June 5, 1950 in Auburn, N.Y., he was the son of Shirley (Busacker) Johnson of Delmar and the late Mauritz Johnson. Carl grew up in East Schodack and Ithaca, N.Y. He attended Cornell University where he was an active member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and graduated in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. He received his MBA in 1976 from the University at Albany. Carl worked for the New York State Department of Public Service and served as liaison for federal matters to the Public Service Commission, especially with regard to telecommunications policy, the FCC and Congress. Carl was an avid sports fan, closely following the New York Yankees, football's Giants, hockey's New York Rangers and the Cornell hockey team. He also enjoyed playing golf. In addition to his mother, Carl is survived by his siblings, William R. Johnson and his wife Sarah of Charlottesville, Va., David C. Johnson of Mariaville, N.Y., Linnea M. Johnson and her husband Frank Messina of Logan, Utah and Elizabeth A. Flanagan and her husband John of Holbrook, Mass. Carl was also the uncle of Thomas Johnson, Alyssa, Peter and Daniel Messina and Caitlin, Andrew and Clare Flanagan. Many aunts, uncles and cousins also survive. In addition to his father, Carl was predeceased by a nephew, Edward Johnson. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2007 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 16 Elsmere Avenue, Delmar. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send a remembrance in Carl's name to the United Way of the Greater Capital Region, P.O. Box 13865, Albany, NY 12212.

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Published by Albany Times Union from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Carl Johnson

16 Entries

Mary Newmeyer

January 14, 2008

Carl was one of the finest people I have ever known. He provided much knowledge and good sense to our discussions at NARUC meetings. But more important he was a kind considerate person who always made you feel welcome.I will miss him.
I hope you find some peace in knowing how many people loved Carl. He is the greatest!!!

Katie Cummings

December 20, 2007

I'm so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of working with Carl on both the NARUC and MACRUC Staff Committees. I admired Carl greatly and considered him to be my friend. He will be missed by many.
I would just add that the MACRUC Staff Telecommunications Committee passed a resolution last week honoring Carl and we are sending a copy to his family and the New York Commission.

Jeff Richter

December 19, 2007

Keep it short and to the point. That is what Carl would say. I’ve known Carl for 16 years as a mentor and a friend, and I know he would have been embarrassed by the following showing of attention. Nevertheless, he deserves it, and so much more, and I am confident I speak for many of his colleagues.
Resolution to Honor the Memory of Carl A. Johnson:
WHEREAS, Carl has garnered the respect, admiration, and high esteem of both his peers and his superiors, and
WHEREAS, Carl got to us all by softening his drive, intellect, professionalism, and dedication to good government with patience, a disarming wit, and the warmth and humble charm of a gentleman, and
WHEREAS, Carl contributed greatly to improving US Telecommunications Policy and the work of NARUC’s Telecommunications Committee through his diligent work on NARUC’s Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Federal-State Joint Boards on Universal Service and Separations, and
WHEREAS, his absence in these forums will be sorely missed, and
WHEREAS, Carl’s passing leaves a deep sadness and an aching sense of loss that only sharing with others that knew him will assuage, NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Carl Johnson, and be it further
RESOLVED, that Carl will be remembered forever in our hearts with great respect and admiration and with highest esteem. Goodbye dear friend.

John Ridgway

December 18, 2007

We'll miss Carl and his sense of purpose. He was a man of integrity and conscious. If he disagreed with you, he was always prepared to discuss the issue with out criticism.

John Mann

December 12, 2007

Carl Johnson. My friend. A friend from almost the very moment we met.

Ms. Johnson, I thought the world of your son. My interaction with Carl chiefly involved work and NARUC. Every time our paths crossed, it was always a pleasure. I learned something I didn't know. I felt I was in the presence of someone who really cared. Carl always put a smile on my face and in my heart. He was always affable, approachable, and an enjoyable gentle man to be around. It was easy to recognize his innate gentility, and through his wit and wisdom, he always carried his weight when it came to sharing and developing policy issues.

I know that you are very proud of him, and the life he led. He made me a better person, and I will always be in his debt for getting to be his friend.

As a person with life limiting cancer, I have some idea what you and Carl have had to live through. I hope you can attain solace knowing that Carl had an incredible positive effect on so many lives and that the world is a better place because of his spirit.

In all sincerity and with a sense of sadness for your loss,

John Mann

John Mann

December 12, 2007

Peter Bluhm

December 11, 2007

Carl Johnson was a wonderful guy and a good friend. He sometimes hid behind a gruff exterior, but his many friends also knew Carl as a caring and considerate person who was also extremely bright and articulate. Carl cared deeply about having government behave sensibly, and his perceptiveness and wit often raised the quality of group discussions. For many years Carl was a member of the NARUC Staff Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service. In both contexts, Carl was smart, patient, and tactful, but above all diligent about advancing his view of the good. Carl will be greatly missed by all of his many friends and colleagues at NARUC and on the Joint Board.

Joel Shifman

December 6, 2007

Life passes by so quickly that we often fail to slow down to fully appreciate those whose pathway through life truly made a difference. Carl was one such person. Although we often disagreed, I could always count on Carl tp present the most articulate, quick-witted, and knowledgeable response to almost any telecommunication issue. More often than not, I ended up agreeing with Carl, much more than I let one.
I fondly recall reminiscing with Carl about how we as little boys were fascinated with old-timey magneto telephones whether they were in upstate New York outside Ithaca or rural Pennsylvanic and West Virginia. Our careers may have strayed far a field, but we shared a wonderment and amazement for all things engineering, mechanical, and mathematical. We both had wonderful cats and often traded stories and pictures.
Connie and I remember cruising down Puget Sound outside Seattle with Carl where he introduced us to the pleasures of fine cognac and good conversation. We will remember you forever, Carl. Our thoughts are with Carl's family during this time.
Joel Shifman and Connie Pingley

Tom Dunleavy

December 5, 2007

There are not enough superlatives to allow me to express my feelings for my colleague and cherished friend, Carl Johnson. Carl will be in my thoughts and prayers always.

Brad Ramsay [NARUC General Counsel]

December 5, 2007

I've known Carl for almost 18 years - my entire tenure at NARUC. He was "one of the good ones" - witty, smart and a good friend - one that I will miss greatly (and I am not alone). Not everyone has a career that impacts critical national and state polices. Not everyone can claim their actions -their work - really made a difference. Carl can. And he also managed to pick up a bundle of friends and a whole lot of respect along the way. My thoughts are with you and the rest of Carls family this week. I am truly sorry for your loss.

Barclay Jackson

December 4, 2007

Carl, my friend and colleague.
You brought gifts of wit, perception, irascibility and tenacity, along with kindness and generosity to NARUC telecoms subcommittee meetings and multitudinous planning conference calls. You would probably scoff at any mawkish sentimentality but...Thanks for brightening my path in this world.

Terry Monroe

December 1, 2007

Carl - you will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. Thank you for being my boss, mentor and dear friend. Your legacy will live on for all of us who were blessed to have known you.

Barbara Combs

December 1, 2007

Carl was one of my favorite people at NARUC meetings. I enjoyed his sense of humor both at work and at social gatherings. I liked working with him because we shared a desire to write in a way that communicated well and accurately, and because of the intelligent way he approached the telecommunications issues we worked on together. His contributions to telecom policy will be remembered for a very long time.

Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss.

Carol-Joe Palowich

November 30, 2007

Aunt Shirley,
Both Joe and I are so sorry for your loss. Please take comfort in remembering the wonderful years you had together and in the experiences you were able to share. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Carol and Joe Palowich

Robert DeBroux

November 30, 2007

Although I only saw Carl at NARUC (federal-state regulatory association) meetings 3 times a year, I shared many enjoyable dinners with him in various parts of the country, and particularly enjoyed his dry sense of humor and his ability to use it as an effective tool when disagreeing with a fellow regulator or industry member on a specific issue. He will be greatly missed at those meetings.

Erin Yunits

November 30, 2007

I am truly sorry for your loss. I know he will be greatly missed by his friends and family. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this difficult time.

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