Susan Jacobs Johnson

1945 - 2024

Susan Jacobs Johnson

April 8, 1945 - August 17, 2024

I am going to claim the last word, at least insofar as this is the last word. I was born in California to Lyle and Lillian Jacobs which meant I grew up in a family with parents who loved one another and who loved me. I never thought I wanted to marry, but that would have been wrong because marriage to Warren C. (Bud) Johnson was so right. Our age difference may have raised some eyebrows, though most likely not for long, and happily appeared not to distress Bud's children who folded me into the family and into their marital families seemingly without hesitation. I was an only child who probably rightfully never claimed to have any parenting skills, now survived by Bud's children, Warren W. (Louise) Johnson, Cindy (Mike) Suplick, Lauri (David Roberson) Johnson, and Genevieve (Mike Kinnee) Johnson, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

My career was not linear but each part somehow related to the others. I taught at the U. of Connecticut where I discovered that (lack of) constitutional protections for women was more interesting than social psychology, so I went to law school and was a trial lawyer for a long time. That was professionally rewarding, but it was more rewarding personally to return to academe when Johnson retired, and I spent the remainder of my career with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UNO.

I enjoyed opportunities to serve on the boards of a variety of non-profit organizations, each designed to advance the common good. But more important, I enjoyed the gift of good friends, some new, some old in every sense of that word. That was great good fortune because it was fun, because it was genuine, because conversations with these folks were filled with insight and good advice that might be followed or not but was always to be taken seriously. Much of that is memorable to be shared but you are spared that. With one exception: Lillian did not have much formal education but she had uncommonly good sense and she distinguished between being by onself and being alone; she observed she felt sorry for folks who do not enjoy being by themselves.

I loved golf and especially loved the Golf Team, but I was a miserable golfer. The only good things to say in that regard are these: I was no worse when I was old than I had been 30 years earlier; I played quickly, never lost my temper, and didn't cheat; and I applied some of golf's lessons to life generally, most notably: Don't follow a bad shot with a stupid one.

If you have time and if you're interested, read a favored e.e. cummings poem. It reminded me of my friends: "because you take life in your stride."

If inclined, I suggest memorials to The Compassionate Way, a non-profit that extends compassion to a variety of disadvantaged people and reflects the vision and energy of a good friend, Rev. Dr. Candace Adams. Please make gifts by check out to Lakes Area Presbyterian Church, indicate that the gift is for The Compassionate Way, and mail to Rev. Dr. Candace Adams, 14978 John L. Dr., Little Falls, MN 56345. On-line giving is available at lpchurchbaxter.org.

A celebratory gathering of Susan's friends and family will take place on Friday, October 11, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Pilgrim Hall, First Plymouth Church, 2000 D Street, Lincoln, NE.