Richard Johnson Obituary

Name: Visitation for Richard Johnson
Start: 2014-09-07T16:30:00.000Z
End: 2014-09-07T20:00:00.000Z
Location: Andersen Morgan Funeral Home - Franklin Park

Richard George Johnson loving son of Rose and the late George Johnson. Intellectually stimulating and warm hearted. A mentor to many as the broadcast production manager at The Medill School at Northwestern University. Visitation Sunday, September 7, 2014 11:30 a.m. until time of funeral service 3:00 p.m. at Cuneo-Columblan Funeral Home, 10300 W. Grand Ave. (1 block east of Mannheim Road) Franklin Park, IL. Interment Private. Info. 847-455-1200 or www.curreocolumbian.net

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Published by Chicago Tribune on Sep. 6, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Johnson

5 Entries

Christine Calvin

December 8, 2014

I was shocked to read of Rich's passing. Even though I only knew him for a brief period of time, I was privileged to have my cultural horizons expanded in ways I still treasure, thanks to him. His enthusiasm and joy were remarkable. What a loss! Thank you, Rich, for having shared your effervescent curiosity and remarkable knowledge with me. You were a very special person.

Kitchen Kevin

December 4, 2014

Rich was a wonderful teacher and a wonderful person to know. I learned much just from being around him. He always showed the value in movies and other things a regular person might fail to see or understand. A wonderful person to have had the pleasure of knowing

John Widera

December 4, 2014

I am so saddened to learn of Rich's passing. Rich and I met at Northwestern University in 1990, and our long-time professional association led to one of the most interesting and enlightening friendships I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. I could call Rich out of the blue after months or even years of no contact and have a conversation just as if we'd met for lunch the day before. We had so many great times together at Medill. When Pete Rasmussen passed earlier this year, Rich was devastated over the tragic loss of a dear friend at too young an age. Now, in cruel irony, this. Rich was as kind-hearted and genuine a person as one is likely to meet. And intelligent, generous, eclectic soul selfless and inspiring in all he did. I was looking forward to our usual holiday exchange of phone calls and emails. Alas, it will not be. Rich, my friend, you will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.

Bob Hanscum

September 8, 2014

Rich's kindness and enthusiasm brightened countless lunches that I shared with him while I attended Northwestern University. Whether he'd just read an interesting article, seen a new film, or, in one memorable instance, just heard Naughty By Nature's "Hip Hop Hooray" for the first time while at the gym, Rich presented each as a new discovery worthy of discussion, dissection, and, ultimately, celebration.

He also hosted in-dorm weekly screenings of movies he appreciated; one week could be "Stairway To Heaven" by Powell & Pressburger, and the next, "Eraserhead" by David Lynch. Rich's interests didn't seem to be contained by decade or genre, and that's precisely what students needed to see: a man whose mind was open to new thought and always respectful of others' passion.

Rich once asked me if he could borrow my VHS copy of the pilot for "Twin Peaks." A few weeks after I gave it to him, Rich arrived at one of our impromptu lunches with a small package for me. Oddly wrapped in a brown paper bag was a gorgeous hardcover book of David Lynch's paintings and drawings from the Touko Museum Of Contemporary Art. Printed entirely in Japanese -- which I do not speak -- this beautiful book instantly became one of my most curious, most prized possessions.

I never got the VHS back from him (maybe that's why he gave me the book.) But that was fine; I didn't need it. I could replace it easily, and, over many years and with each new video format, I did. But that book has been irreplaceable. It's sitting beside me as I type this.

I'll never know exactly how he got this seemingly rare Japanese book for me in pre-internet, suburban Illinois. He wouldn't tell me. I only know it's been with me for over half of my life, and I expect it will be with me all my days.

Innumerable students, professors, and faculty are lucky to have known such a generous man who eagerly shared his love of art, knowledge, and life. Northwestern University was and is a better place because of him.

Alicia Dean

September 7, 2014

Rich was very kind to me when I was a student at Northwestern. I was taking a journalism class and he helped me with the video equipment. We became friends and I would listen to his stories about Chicago and Frank Lloyd Wright homes. He will be missed. Rest in Peace Rich.

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