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Malcolm Johnson Obituary
Malcolm Lathrop Johnson, 79, passed away February 8th at Yale-New Haven Hospital in the company of four of his seven children - Martha Thoms, Cassandra Campbell, Angela Johnson and Malcolm Johnson, Jr. Born in Hartford, Connecticut to parents Ernest and Marjorie Johnson, Malcolm was the first of three brothers - followed by Roderick and Richard Johnson. Malcolm graduated from Loomis Chaffee School in 1955 and then graduated in 1959 with a degree in English from Yale University. He then served in the Army for one year. Malcolm spent his entire career as a journalist at the Hartford Courant. He became a national and international reporter, as well as City Editor, Sunday Editor, eventually and finally landed the position of well-respected film and theater critic. In addition, he was the long-time editor of the Courant's poetry column, "Our Singing World." Malcolm also worked as a writer for The Boston Globe and other publications as well and is the author of the book, "Yesterday's Connecticut." Malcolm married Betty Jean Johnson soon after college and became an immediate father to children Mark James (Maine), Martha Adrian (Connecticut) and David Scott (Connecticut). Malcolm and Betty Jean then went on to have four more children together - Cassandra Lathrop (Los Angeles), Angela Marjorie-Lieshman (Connecticut), Malcolm Lathrop, Jr.(Connecticut), and Amanda Janet Bowman (Hawaii). Malcolm expressed, in his own inimitable style and here quoted from a hand-written letter to his children - "I do not want a funeral as they are a waste of money and tear-jerker for one and all." Those wishing to make a donation in his name may do so to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
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Memories and Condolences
for Malcolm Johnson
Sponsored by the family.
Barry DeCarli
April 2, 2019
I was just going through a few old clippings from the Hartford Courant in the mid 1970s to find the name of the Poetry Column editor. Of course, it was Malcolm L. Johnson. I have always felt so honored that over a few years he accepted and published a couple of my poems in the Courant. He had an an extremely positive effect on my writing by accepting those poems.
I am sorry to hear of his passing. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Christopher Shinn
March 28, 2017
Malcolm Johnson made a big difference in my life! His theatre and movie reviews were my first exposure to a cultural world outside of Wethersfield, Connecticut and what was on my TV or at the cineplex. He was a thoughtful and interesting critic and I learned a great deal from him. I remember waking up Friday mornings full of excitement that I'd get to read his latest reviews...
My deepest condolences on your loss.
February 26, 2017
To Roddy and all the Johnsons: Was very sad to learn about Malcolm. It has been more than 60 years since we lived across the street from one another. He was a great guy and I was always jealous of my friend Rod who had an older brother and I did not. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.
Hobey Hyde
Christine Kurdys
February 17, 2017
To all the Johnsons: Sending you my deepest condolences on Malcolm's passing. His wisdom, wit, and writings were a shining light and inspiration in my years at Coventry High School and its drama productions, and even today, every now and then, I glance into "Yesterday's Connecticut" for historical insights. It was indeed my good fortune to have known both Betty and Malcolm; To Angela, Cassie, and little Mal: Keeping you in my thoughts and memories. Love you all!!
--Christine
Marcia & Brian Heath
February 15, 2017
Brian and I send you our condolences and our love. We thought so highly of your dad, and we relied on his movie and play reviews, never finding anyone comparable. We have the highest regard for your family and wish you strength in your grieving and loving support of each other.
February 15, 2017
So many memories with time well spent between your family and ours. Please accept our sincere condolence for the loss of your father. Sandy, Chandler and Angela Rose
Lois Frankland
February 14, 2017
Johnson Children, Just heard about Malcolm's passing. So sorry for your loss. Lots of good memories. He is with the love of his life and very happy. Love to all of you. The Frankland Family
Sharon and Shaggy Bernier
February 13, 2017
Our condolences go out to the family of Malcolm Johnson. A very nice man who, together with his wife, raised a beautiful family.
May your fond memories of him help you get through this most difficult time.
May he rest in peace in the arms of our Lord.
Grandpa Mal with some of his grandkids ( Toby wasn't born yet )
February 13, 2017
Marcy Poppel Paddock
February 13, 2017
Muffii, David, Mark, Amanda, Angela, Cassandra, and Malcolm (and your families):
Please accept my sincere sympathy on the passing of your dad. I was blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to spend time with him and your Mom in Portland and through visits to their Coventry homestead on several occasions. He and your Mom were very special people. May fond memories ease your heartache during this difficult time.
Jonathan "Kelly" Hand
February 12, 2017
So very sincerely sorry to hear of your loss, Johnson family from down the street. I am at a loss for words, and that doesn't happen often. I wish you all strength and perspective during this most difficult time.Honored to have known your father...
Matt Damsker
February 12, 2017
Condolences to Malcolm's family from a former Courant colleague to whom he was kind and wise, and a friend. May he Rest In Peace. He won't be forgotten.Matt Damsker
February 12, 2017
Herb Hallas
February 12, 2017
Malcolm and I first met in a playpen, our parents were friends. He and I were also classmates together at Loomis and Yale. My happy memories of being with Mal include canoeing around a lake as very cool teenagers hoping girls at a camp at one end of the lake would admire us; playing touch football in his backyard on Mohawk Drive in West Hartford; driving in his Studebaker when he showed off how it would not roll backwards on a hill when we came to a stop halfway up a hill even though his foot was not on the brake peddle; listening to him sing Johnnie Ray's song Cry at Loomis prom intermissions, complete with all of Ray's theatrics; and when Mal began working for the daily Hartford Courant as a reporter covering my hometown of Windsor, CT, soon after graduating from college, nicely ushering him out of our weekly newspaper office on Mondays and Tuesdays so that he would not scoop us by spotting the subject of one of our stories that would not appear in print in our paper until Friday. As the years went by, we drifted apart and I was unable to reconnect with Malcolm, until today when I read his obituary. I am sad the possibility of reconnecting with him in this life is no longer there, but I like to believe that the possibility will reappear in a future life.
Matt Poland
February 12, 2017
Malcolm was an awesome human being and journalist. He represented the best in journalism and his spirit still inspires those of us lucky enough to have known him. My deepest sympathy to his family.
February 12, 2017
February 12, 2017
My sincere condolences to the family for your loss. May God comfort you during this difficult time of sorrow and pain. Psalm 147:3.
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