Carol Bald

Oct. 4, 2022 - Carol Johnson Bald passed away peacefully at 95 years of age in N. Andover, MA. Carol was born on Christmas day 1926 in Glen Ridge, NJ to mother Jennie J. (Weart) Bonsal and father Alonzo F. Bonsal. She grew up in Montclair, NJ and graduated Montclair High School in 1944 along with her future husband Philip M. Johnson M.D., a pioneer in the field of Nuclear Medicine as a professor at Columbia University. Carol was predeceased by her beloved Phil, her brother Richard Bonsal, her sister Margaret Soleau "Bonnie" and also Carol's second husband, civil engineer Robert Bald. Carol's children are Lawrence P. Johnson M.D. (wife Renita) of Andover, MA, Stephen B. Johnson Esq. (wife Chris) of Norwood, CO, Gregory K. Johnson M.D. (wife Ellen) of North Andover, MA and Lynda Johnson Miller (husband Mark) of Doylestown, PA. Nine Grandchildren - Philip & Colin; Bridger & Madeline; Tyler, Caitlin & Will; Joanna & Marshall.

A prolific traveler who loved adventure, Carol graduated Wellesley College with a degree in Chemistry in 1948 and promptly went on a 3-month American Youth Hostel bicycle tour of Europe. She went on a 1978 tour of recently opened China with husband Phil. Passion for travel took Carol on safari in Africa, nature tours to the Galapagos, India, many Caribbean islands, National Parks, frequent getaways to the family home she and Phil built on Loon Lake in the Adirondacks and family reunions at Mohonk Mountain House in the Catskills. Carol became a snowbird later in life with a Southwinds condo in Vero Beach and began another family tradition of gatherings on Florida's Treasure Coast.

Carol received a Master's Degree in Education from Columbia University while raising four kids and worked for over a decade in Bergen Community College's Adult Learning Center as a Career Counselor.

Her beloved home for nearly 50 years was Ridgewood, NJ, where she lived until 2015. She was a devoted Trustee at the Valley Hospital, and volunteer at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church and other charity organizations. Carol was a devotee of the arts and made frequent trips to her favorite city of New York for the Met, Lincoln Center and Broadway for Opera, Ballet and many Broadway shows.

Carol enjoyed celebrating life on the ski slopes, the tennis court, paddle court, the golf course, and always with a wonderful smile and sense of humor.

Carol had a remarkable work ethic, as a supporter of volunteerism, and as an advocate for women's rights and education. She was a loyal benefactor for Wellesley, Dartmouth and Columbia. She was just as wonderful and an inspiration to her children and grandchildren.

The family plans a New Jersey memorial for the Spring of 2023 in Ridgewood and ask that in lieu of flowers donations be made to either Planned Parenthood or to St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church.