Francis R. Johnson Sr.

JOHNSON - Francis R. Sr., 75, of North Babylon, NY and Spring Hill, FL, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2009. Mr. Johnson was a former NYS Deputy Attorney General who moved to Florida after his retirement in 1993. He is survived by his wife Helene, the first minority and female President of the North Babylon School Board, his children, Francis Jr. and his wife Maureen of Chicago, IL; Tonimarie of Spring Hill, FL; Todd, former Suffolk County Deputy County Executive, and wife Nancy of Central Islip, NY; and Terrance of Naples, FL. His son Trevor, passed away in 2006. Mr. Johnson was born in Harlem, NY, the son of Francis Alexander Pippins Johnson and Gwendolyn Trotman, who were immigrants to this country from the islands of Dominica and Trinidad respectively. Known as "Chubby" to his family, he was the second of 5 children, which included his older sister Audrey, now deceased, and his younger siblings Carl, wife Mozelle,of Columbus, NJ; Robert, wife Cecilie, of Los Altos, CA; and Lenora (Tina) of Blackwood, NJ. Mr. Johnson grew up in the Bronx, NY, and was a proud 1952 graduate of Stuyvesant High School. He immediately enlisted in the Air Force and was based at Whiteman AFB in Missouri as part of the 340th Air Refueling Wing of the Strategic Air Command in support of the B-47, the first all jet bomber. During his service he received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Air Crew Member Badge. He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1956. In 1957, Frank Johnson joined the New York City police force where he worked as a patrolman in Manhattan, Brooklyn and South Jamaica, undercover in the Vice Unit and on special assignment to the Model Cities Program and the Advocate's Office. He retired in 1978 as a Detective assigned to the NYPD Advocates' Office. It was as a young policman that he met his future wife Helene and her son Trey. They married in January of 1961 and he moved his family out to North Babylon in 1963 a few months after the birth of their son Todd. Soon after, Tonimarie, Terrance and Trevor joined the family. With a growing family, Frank Johnson decided to return to school to complete his college degree while working full time. In 1970, he received his Associate's Degree in Sociology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and his Bachelor's degree in 1972. In 1976, he received his law degree from Brooklyn Law School and began working with the New York State Attorney General's Office of the Special Prosecutor in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and retired there as Deputy Director in 1993. After retiring to Spring Hill, FL, Mr. Johnson volunteered for several years as a Teen Court Judge & Youth Attorney Coach for the Teen Court and also sat on the Foster Care Review Board in Hernando County. He was honoredfor his volunteer work in 2001, 2002 and 2003. He also leaves eight grandchildren: Timothy, wife Danielle, Terahl, Tyler, wife Nina, Christina, Torrance, Tasheim, Justine and Matthew and a two great-grand children: Angelina and Purity, as well as beloved nieces, nephews and cousins and many, many friends. In recent years he was an active participant in the Respite Care Program run by Catholic Charities program of Hernando County. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Catholic Charities Respite Care Program, 1423 Kass Circle, Spring Hill, FL, 34606. The family held a private service and cremation in Florida. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service in his honor will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 12:00 noon in the Nassau Room of the Smithtown Sheraton, located at 110 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788.