Craig Alan Johnston

Johnston, Craig Alan
of Glendale, Arizona died Monday, April 11th, 2011 at Arrowhead Hospital after a courageous 40 year battle with Juvenile (Type I) Diabetes. Born in Butte, Montana, May 25th, 1955, to Clayton and Jean Johnston, Craig was an excellent student and a talented athelete. He spent his formative years in Butte, MT and then moved to San Diego, CA where he graduated as valedictorian from Poway High School in 1973. He was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes during his Sophomore year of high school which set the course for his future career in research & education. After high school, he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA on a full ride scholarship where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1977. During his time at M.I.T., he was very involved in clubs, joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity & played Lacrosse for his school in which he was named All-American. While attending school at M.I.T., he married Sharon Estabrook, his high school sweetheart in Butte, MT. Shortly thereafter, Craig continued on to receive two Doctorates in Neuroscience and Pharmacology from Michigan State University in 1982. He continued to do post-doctorate work at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and the National Institute of Health Sciences in Durham, N.C. He worked for Washington State University, the University of Montana & finally ended up taking a position as Chair of Pharmacology/Toxicology at Midwestern University in Glendale, Az.
-Of the things that mattered most to Craig was his children. He gave them constant humor and love in their life and always encouraged them to exceed expectations. Craig was known throughout his own life for his humor, athleticism, drive, and passion for music & education. Craig spent his entire career trying to further science in the fields of fertility and diabetes. He made a name for himself at a very young age; authoring at least 18 publications before he graduated, co-authoring many books and chairing an international Endocrinology conference held in Rome, Italy. Craig also dedicated much of his time to the professional Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Kappa Psi, in which he held many positions including the top honor of National Grand Regent. Craig's most proud accomplishments included establishing the international group of "Christian Pharmaceutical Fellows International", and recently he received the national award of "Little John" which was an award presented each year to one faculty member who best embodies the qualities of service and commitment to the university system.This award acknowledged his commitment to excellence in mentorship, encouraging other faculty to engage in research, write grant applications, and pursue publication. Since joining the faculty at MWU, publications from his department quadrupled. Not only was Craig a commited faculty mentor, he was also a strong advocate for student involvement, and recently won a national award as the most outstanding student chapter advisor for the Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity. If Craig were here to speak to us he would remind each of us to live to our fullest, laugh everyday, and find the joy in life. -Craig will be dearly missed by his two children and many others whose lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his mother in 1982 and father in 2003. Survivors include his ex-wife Sharon Johnston; daughter, Hope Capon; & son-in-law, Seth Capon; Missoula, son, Christopher Johnston, Glendale; sister Debra Johnston, Sacramento; and fiance Debra Taylor and her family, Peoria. Along with countless other cousins, friends, collegues, and students. -A celebration of his life will be on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 at 2:00pm in the 4000 bldg. at Christ's Church of the Valley in Peoria, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a Memorial Scholarship that his children have set up in his name at Midwestern University-Glendale. Contact Christine Clouse, Director of Development at 1-623-572-3286.