Ralph Johnson

Ralph Johnson of San Francisco, California died suddenly on March 10, 2024 after a brief illness. He was 76 years old.

He was preceded in death by his mother Gloria Rappa Johnson, father Herschell Coleman Johnson, and brother Don Johnson. He was loved by his wife of 37 years Kristie/Kris (Eugene), his brother Ricky Johnson and wife Luanne, and dozens of family members and friends who miss him greatly.

A born-and-raised San Franciscan, Ralph would grill anyone making the same claim: "What hospital? What high school?" He was born at Children's Hospital, graduated from George Washington High School, and studied photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. He was a successful property manager and also bought, renovated, and flipped several Victorian-era homes in the city.

Ralph was a strategic thinker, clever, opinionated, generous, fond of telling cringey Dad jokes, and pranking Ricky. He enjoyed studying ancient Rome and Egypt, listening to old-time radio mysteries, cooking and consuming lots of different food, especially root beer floats, pecan pie, and the delights on a cruise ship or at Original Joe's of Westlake ("soooo good").

Ralph loved and supported his family always and maintained decades-long friendships. He was dad to Sophia the Talking Cat who Came to Live with Us, almost-human standard poodle Patrick, Gus the gentleman tabby, and lap cat Boston Blackie who once brought Ralph a snake.

Ebullient and hilarious, Ralph lived in the moment and never worried. Had he the chance to say good-bye, his parting words surely would have been "Just have a good time!"

There was no memorial service. No flowers or gifts, please. If you wish to honor Ralph's life, please donate to the S.S. Jeremiah O'Brien World War II liberty ship on which Ralph served proudly as Gunnery First Mate, Friends of the Urban Forest which planted the lovely trees on Chattanooga Street, or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society which fights the disease that decimated Ralph's mobility.