Gary D. Johnson, 67, of Sunapee, N.H. passed away on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016.

He was born in Claremont, N.H. on June 13, 1949, and attended St. Mary's parochial school.

He had a career in the fire service spanning nearly forty years. His career began in the Sunapee Fire Department as a volunteer. He then became a permanent firefighter in Durham, N.H. and later a captain in the Lebanon, N.H. department. He worked at the Vermont Fire Academy as an instructor/coordinator, and later served as Chief in Pittsfield, N.H. Gary also worked at the NH Fire Academy in various capacities since April of 1981.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, and three children, Paul Johnson and daughter-in- law, Kim Tieu of Oakland, Calif., Valerie Johnson and son-in- law, Michael Brown of Fort Collins, Colo. and Stephen Johnson of Rochester, N.H.; granddaughter, Makaylah and grandson, Austyn; a sister, Mary Tillson and her husband, Larry; two brothers, George Johnson and Roland Johnson, Jr. and his wife, Mary Beth, as well as several well-loved nieces and nephews.

Gary had a wonderful gift for humor, and was an articulate speaker and inspiring instructor to young recruits. He loved his family, the fire service, and the endless possibilities of each new day.

Visiting hours will be held at the NH Fire Academy, 98 Smokey Bear BLVD, Concord, N.H. on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 from 2 to 6 p.m.

A memorial service will at the Fire Academy on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 at 10 a.m.

Arrangements are with the Stringer Funeral Home & Crematorium, 146 Broad Street, Claremont, N.H.

To view an online memorial or send a private message of condolence, visit stringerfh.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Concord Monitor on Sep. 14, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Gary Johnson

15 Entries

Carrie Humphrey

October 3, 2016

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.

September 17, 2016

Jen Hart

September 16, 2016

An inspiration, a teacher, a chief with a wonderful gift of laughter and joy- I am blessed and proud to call Gary friend- he was my first instructor in the fire service and a co-worker at the Fire Academy- and always a bright spot in my day. It is with profound sadness, my heart is with Kathy and family- all those who had the privilege of his company, rest easy brother

Barry Brunelle

September 15, 2016

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 on drums, Mitch Gagne on bass, Ray Lague
on rhythm guitar and me on guitar also. Gary's father got us our one and only paying gig at a girl's school in Randolph Vermont.
I think we each got $5.00 for an hours worth of work. He denied it but, I always thought that Gary's father paid us and not the girl's school...
because that's the kind of great guy Gary's father was. ( Insert "apple not far from tree thing" here ).

Band members ebbed and flowed and the band morphed from Blinkers to Vampires to I don't remember what.... At some point, Gary and I lost touch
when I went into the service and he was trying to get through High School. After doing my duty and separating from the Army,
one of the first people I contacted was Gary...sort of... I needed a job and his dad was hiring. Heh! But, it wasn't long before we were
practicing songs and working up enough material to do three sets. Usually you would work up four sets but, Gary had a talent that enabled us to
stretch three into four....and so, we became the duo "Mark and David Ltd.". Because we were somewhat "Ltd." to three sets. We eventually
learned enough material to fill more than four sets but, that's how it started.

We must have been doing something right because we played all over Vermont mostly, but also New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
We played "Clyde Barnstables' Country Village" in Ludlowe Vermont one night a week for almost two years. We played "The Roundhouse"
in Manchester Vermont for almost a year and a half for one night a week. and many other one night stands for dances, weddings,
holiday parties, lounges and bus stations. The Falmouth bus station to be specific. I don't remember why we were down there but,
we wound up waiting for a bus and we had our guitars with us so, we decided to kill some time practicing. We sat on a bench outside
the station, opened up our cases and started playing. Pretty soon, passersby would slow down as they passed and some would actually stop.
One guy even dropped some money in Gary's open case. Gary tried to explain we weren't working and we were only practicing. The guy refused
to take it back...said he was a muscian too and walked off.

That was one of the best times I had with Gary. It wasn't the little bit of money or recognition that we got; it was the fact that we
we could legitimately brag that we "played" the Falmouth bus station! There were many other good memories with Gary...like Saturday practices.
I would usually get invited to supper. Always, always hamburger and beans. Like the times Kathy would come along on some gigs and do some singing.
Some people would do double-takes so hard, you'd hear their necks crack! And many etceteras.
Thank you Gary and Kathy for all those excellent times. I will miss you friend!

There is a place in the universe where those that can't anymore, can, and those that forgot, remember, and those who have broken hearts,
will heal.
Gary, Kathy and anyone else who can find this place....join me in one last song for Gary....

Amazi-i-ing Grace! How Sweet the sound, tha-a-at saved .......

Robin Schrader

September 15, 2016

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 out the door". Time marches on too quickly. My deepest thoughts and love to all of you.

Willo Scott

September 15, 2016

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 and how much he loved his family. I know my brother, his father, is very proud of who he became.
Many blessings to all.
Aunt Willo

Morgan McCarthy

September 14, 2016

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 forget him.

Denise Kitson

September 14, 2016

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 progress. I am so sorry for your families loss.

Todd Cosgrove

September 14, 2016

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.

Steve Carrier

September 14, 2016

Kathy and family, please accept my most sincere condolences. I had the pleasure of working with Gary for many years both at LFD and the Vermont Fire Academy. Gary was the kind of man who you could talk to for hours and always learn something from him. It is a sad day for all who knew him and especially for your family that loved him so much.

Paul Johnson

September 14, 2016

You were the best father, mentor, and friend a son could ever have. I love you so much Dad! Words cannot begin to express how much I miss you. I am glad you are now free pain and resting in peace.

Valerie Johnson

September 14, 2016

I love you Daddy!

Daniel Connell

September 14, 2016

Thanks Chief for all your inspirational words and talks to the fire recruits in the Firefighter I night class at the NH Fire Academy. We will carry them in our hearts forever. It was a blessing knowing you, you'll be forever missed, may you now rest in peace !

Barbara jenkins

September 14, 2016

The dearest friend we loved so much.
Barb and Norm