Craig Ross Johnson

Craig Ross Johnson passed away peacefully at his home in Hudson, Ohio, on March 17, 2026 at the age of 77. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on Dec. 12,1948. He grew up in Cleveland Heights, but graduated from Revere High School in Richfield, Ohio. He attended The Ohio State University and Akron University and he was a successful executive in insurance and financial services in northeast Ohio.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Nicholas J. and E. Sandra Johnson, and is survived by his beloved wife, Karen Szabo Johnson; his children, Amy (Scotte) and Ryan (Deborah); his adored grandchildren, Jacob, Walker, Nina and Lily; and great-grandchildren, Rylan and Kaia. He is also survived by his siblings, Leslie (John Cooley) in Charlottesville, VA, Kent in Fairlawn, OH and Claudia in Princeton, NJ.

Craig had an unusually exuberant and expansive personality. A brilliant talker, he loved to tell a good story. With an infallible sense of timing, he would spin out the narrative almost to the breaking point, injecting accents where appropriate, and finally delivering the punch line at precisely the right moment. From a young age, Craig was also a gifted jazz musician. He idolized Paul Desmond and Gerry Mulligan (the saxophone was his instrument), Miles Davis and Chet Baker, and even as a teenager, he played at several Cleveland venues. He was a faithful, life-long fan of the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians) and The Cleveland Browns. And he never gave up hope in his teams.

Craig had a spirit of adventure. He was creative and enterprising, always full of plans and projects, always curious, always thinking and speculating. But when the day was done, his kids and grandkids were his greatest joy. They knew that he was always there for them, for advice, support, a quiet walk, or just plain fun. Now they are left with memories -- of Easter egg hunts, and trips to Disneyworld, and all those overnights at the house by the Lake. It would give Craig much comfort to know that these memories will sustain them as they make their way through life.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 8592 Darrow Road, Twinsburg, Ohio 44087. The funeral ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 11 a.m. Interment immediately following the service at 12 noon.