Harlow Johnson

Harlow Chandler Johnson

April 20, 1936 - March 30, 2013

Harlow passed away unexpectedly in his home in Emerald Hills after a long battle with congestive heart failure. He was born in Evanston, IL, the second of three brothers - all Eagle Scouts. He graduated from Evanston Township High School and from Northwestern University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of accepting a position with Westinghouse or Chandlers', the family business, his love of helping others led him to New York Life as an agent in the local office in 1961. Because of his dream of living in California, he and his family moved to Palos Verdes Estates, CA in 1970 and again, to Menlo Park where he joined the NYLIC Golden Gate Office in 1973. And then on July 1, 1979, he suffered a massive heart attack doing considerable damage to the left ventricle and the electrical system which caused ongoing arrhythmias. But that didn't stop him from marrying 'the love of his life' Anne Lugar on their front lawn on August 12, 1979 surrounded by their extended family of six children. They lived in Menlo Park for 24 years before moving to Emerald Hills. Harlow was with NYLIC for 52 years, 25 of those shared with his son and partner, Duncan, a fourth generation NYLIC agent. Harlow was a Certified Life Underwriter, a Chartered Financial Consultant, a Registered Investment Advisor, and earned his Masters of Science in Financial Services. He was a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Co-Founder of the Chicago Study Group, and member of The Nautilus Group. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park and passionate about soccer, boating, fishing, backpacking, and family - giving them all the love and guidance he felt in his heart. Preceded in death by his parents, Jared L. and Eleanor B. Johnson, his older brother, Jared L. Johnson, and his beloved son, Bruce T. Johnson, Harlow is survived by his wife, Anne L. Johnson, a younger brother, Morton W. Johnson, and his children, Michael, Duncan, Robin Davis, Bruce Macrum and Emily Ratti, his 14 grandchildren, and faithful dogs Mollie and Winnie.

We loved him so very much and our loving life together. Harlow will be remembered as a gentle, kind man who thought only about how he could help other people, and as a humble man who without seeking recognition, sought to help those who needed him. The family is holding a Memorial Service at Valley Presbyterian Church (where he and Anne were members), 945 Portola Road, Portola Valley on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. A reception to celebrate his life will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and/or The Rotary Club of Menlo Park.