Gary D. Johnson

The world was a better place, having had Gary in it. He was such a hard worker and seemed to bring the best out in the people around him. Please know that so many are thinking of all of you. May you find some comfort in knowing his pain is over and he has begun the next journey, lovingly holding all of you in his heart and waiting until you meet again.

My earliest memory of Gary was as a drummer in the St. Mary's Caveliers drum and bugle corps. Always joking around and laughing.
Music was always a big part of our lives and bound us together over many years. I don't remember who started it but, a bunch of us
in the Cavaliers wound up forming a rock band called "The Blinkers". ( 'Cause we all wore sunglasses ), ...get it? There was Gary
doing vocals with Glen Shaw and someone whose name escapes me at the moment, Dickie Osgood...

You never failed to give me a pile of grief (including my very first horror inducing speeding ticket and jokes about mac and cheese at 3am...). I will miss knowing you're always there and your sometimes silly and more often beautiful songs. I can't remember the exact song, but I remember the words you sang to my daughter, the same you had sung to Valerie "Where are you going my little one? Turn around and you're one, turn around and you're four, turn around and you're a young girl running...

Gary was such a special little guy. Sometimes he had a "smart" mouth and there was one time I particularly remember, his Dad got pulled over and was talking to the police officer and little Gary stuck his head out the back window and said; "Aw you ain't so tough!" The officer said to his father ;"I'll give you a warning and you get along, you have enough problems."
There were many other occasions when Gary said what came to his mind. But most of all, I remember, what a sweet boy he was...

Sweet Kathleen and family, I am so very sorry for your loss. I was one of Gary's "Dirty Little North Street Kids", and one of his officers. He often said that he ran with better company than he deserved, both when referring to us and his life in and out of the fire service. I'm certain that was the other way around. He was humble, kind, patient, endlessly entertaining and inspiring. He was my teacher, my mentor and my friend. I am a better man for knowing him. I never have and never will...

I first met Gary back around 1986, when I started working at NH Fire Standards. He was one of the memorable people from that time. Always a smile and friendly and funny. Our paths crossed again when he became chief in Pittsfield. I was so excited to see him and even more excited that he remembered me, not just my face but my name and where he knew me from, after all the time in between and all the people he has met. I was so sorry to hear about Gary and have been keeping informed of his...

I had the great fortune to work and interact with Gary at the Vermont Fire Academy. He was a great inspiration to me and I loved to hear the stories he had to tell, along with lots of good jokes. His spirit and humor will be greatly missed. My condolences to Gary's family, but know he is still with you in spirit.