Benjamin T. Johnson Jr.

Benjamin T. "Tommy" Johnson Jr, 65, of Gloucester, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday morning, January 28, 2014. Tommy was born in Gloucester, MA on June 22, 1948, son of the late Benjamin T. Johnson Sr. and Elizabeth (Duclow) Johnson. He lived in Gloucester all his life and attended public schools and graduated from Gloucester High School with the Class of 1966. His love of Gloucester was evident from him being a young boy who loved the ocean to his last job with Seven Seas Whale Watch aboard "The Privateer". He had worked at O'Donnell-Usen Fisheries as a foreman for many years as well as with Hiltz Moving and Storage. He loved Gloucester and relished talking and answering questions and telling stories about the history of the city. He was very much a "people person", making many friends quite easily and he could be found walking endlessly with his grandchildren up and down the boulevard to the point where he joked that he wore out 3 baby strollers. Tommy could often be heard bragging, to anyone who might listen, about his four children and his grandchildren and their accomplishments, large or small. He was very proud of each one of them. The hours spent with his children and grandchildren were the most important times in his life, and his reason for living. He and his best friend, Barbara Ehler, could be seen picking winter berries all over Cape Ann. Tommy spent many hours volunteering at various local organizations. Tommy is survived by his daughter, Tamie Rodolosi and her husband, Larry, his sons, Christopher Johnson, Jarred A. Johnson, Thomas B. Johnson and his wife Erica O'Toole, all of Gloucester; eight grandchildren, Alisha, Alex, Vanessa, Tyler, Camryn and Mia Rodolosi, Thomas J. Johnson and Jarred E. Johnson, all of Gloucester; six sisters, Judith Bove of Haverhill, Eileen Pereira of FL, Catherine Dagley and her husband, William, Carly Osier and her husband Quimby, Sally Santos and her husband, Ronald, Tracy Sikorski and her husband, Michael, all of Gloucester and one brother, Robert Johnson and his wife, Cheryl of Salisbury, his very special friend Barbara Ehler, his former wife Linda Johnson and his lifelong friend Doug Hiltz all of Gloucester. He was predeceased by his sister, Marily Gale and his former wife, Paula Johnson and two brothers-in-law, Richard Bove and Ronald Pereira. There are no visiting hours. Family and friends are invited to celebrate his Memorial Service in St. Ann's Church, Holy Family Parish, Gloucester, on Saturday, February 8th at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family, c/o Tracy Sikorski, 3 Nautical Heights, Gloucester, MA 01930. Arrangements are by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St., Gloucester. Online condolences may be given at: www.greelyfuneralhome.com