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BORN
1939
DIED
2019
Carl Johnson Obituary
Princeton MA - Carl R. Johnson, Jr., of Princeton, Massachusetts, died February 7, 2019 at home surrounded by his loving family.
He leaves his wife of 48 years, Marianne (Lander) Johnson, of Princeton; his son, John Carl Johnson, of Bellmore, New York, and his daughter, Kirsten Marie Johnson, of Princeton; his brothers, Stephen P. Johnson and his wife Jennifer, of West Millbury, Massachusetts, Jerry Johnson of Irasburg, Vermont, and Thomas G. Johnson and his wife Pamela, of Cushing, Maine. He was predeceased by his brother, David W. Johnson, and his wife Jeanne, of Grafton, Massachusetts.
Born August 25, 1939 in Worcester, Massachusetts, he was the son of C. Russell Johnson and Dagny Emma (Sohlman) Johnson. Carl was the oldest of five brothers. He always kept a watchful eye on his siblings from an early age, praising and encouraging them to get involved in sports.
Carl went to Malvern Road Grammar School, South High School, graduated from Worcester Junior College, and attended Nichols College. He was married on July 29, 1972 in Taastrup, Denmark to Marianne (Lander) Johnson. Carl was the main salesman at Pobco, Inc. in Worcester for 42 years, a family business founded by his grandfather and father. Carl served six years in the United States Army Reserve.
Carl's passions in life were his family, his family business, and his love of tennis. He loved participating in and commentating on many sports, especially tennis. He was an avid member of the Worcester Tennis Club and the Worcester Greendale YMCA tennis facility for over fifty years. Carl earned several New England tennis rankings in a number of age categories. He was instrumental in promoting New England tennis tournaments, as well as preserving the clay courts at the Greendale YMCA. He was a dedicated teacher of tennis to all, especially children. As a longtime member of the Pine Hill Club in Princeton, he participated in many club tennis tournaments and club social gatherings.
He was known for his grace under fire-always showing great sportsmanship and understanding. Having a remarkable sense of humor, Carl often laughed at himself when jokes were sent in his direction.
One of Carl's most-quoted sayings: "You can enjoy a lake, but you crave the ocean."
Services will be private.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Carl Johnson
Jessica Morton-DiPadua
April 3, 2019
Sympathies and thoughts to the family. Im so sorry for your loss.
March 4, 2019
Jim Kane
March 4, 2019
A belated sympathy card is in the mail...struggled with the proper words to express my sorrow. I have been thinking of the Johnson family in these difficult times.
I will surely hold on to all the wonderful memories.
* I was an invited tennis guest at his neighbor's clay court which was nestled among fields and bordered by mountains.
Carl, dressed in white, would serve up his quick wit along with a flat (made - for - Wimbledon grass) - no spin, blistering forehand.
* Later, we would retreat to his beautiful home where the conversation flowed much like our game of tennis. Carl, always a great "Ambassador for Tennis," entertained us with trivia questions, jokes and storytelling. Of course, his first order of business, "Jim, let me get you a cold beer."
* I recall Carl's generosity: tickets to the Newport Hall of Fame Tennis Tournament and his mission to donate tennis balls to the Worcester Animal Rescue League.
It was truly a privilege to know Carl- we will truly miss him.
With Sympathy,
Jim
bill ryan
February 21, 2019
I am so sorry for the loss of such a great human being!
I was recently fortunate enough to have a long conversation with Carl about the good old days growing up on "the hill".
we shared some great stories and did a lot of laughing. Carl`s laugh was infectious and will remain with me for the rest of my life...and beyond!
Rest in peace brother Carl, you will always be with us!
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AG
February 20, 2019
Sorry for the loss of your love one, may you find comfort in knowing that those who have passed on in death God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. Psalms 116:15.
February 20, 2019
May the God of all comfort sustain your family during the days ahead Psalms 119:76
Jerry Johnson
February 20, 2019
My heart goes out to Marianne, John, and Kirsten. I'll miss my brother Carl. I'll miss the encouragement he gave me on the tennis circuit. I'll miss the support he gave me with all my endeavors, including writing. Carl often shared ideas with me on what he thought I might write about. He was looking forward to my next book, be it a novel, poetry book, or children's book. Carl told me that of all the poems I've written, Stone and Wood was his favorite. I will include this poem in my next book and dedicate it to him.
STONE AND WOOD
~In Remembrance of my brother Carl~
by Jerry Johnson
Out walking on a moonlit eve
deep within the woods,
I came across a wall of stone.
Nearly three foot high it rose,
a woven rope of rock trailing beneath bending trees.
A canopy of leaves sifted moonbeams,
dancing light on old stones,
and lichen like lace
lay over boulders in the secluded wall.
A flat rock invited me to sit.
I let my eyes contemplate
the stillness of this scene,
my mind works back
this must have been a farmer's wall
one hundred years ago.
I see his thick hands clearing trees
pasture for his cows.
And with a horse-drawn plow he turns the ground,
freeing countless stones from their earthen graves.
The woods removed and soil plowed twice,
young backs and hands strain to raise stones.
The sun bakes down,
sweat pours freely, hands blister and bleed.
Work continues day after day
sons and daughters of the farmer
are picking stones, picking stones,
picking stones.
Along a chosen route they
position each rock and boulder,
some small, some monolithic,
all placed in perfect stasis,
wedged well on the promise of those below.
Four feet high the bulwark grows,
a half-mile or more uncoiling
an ever-growing divider
snaking along the uneven forest floor.
One hundred years of heaving frosts
toppled sections of the ancient wall.
The once-level crown undulates,
yet the elongated cairn still stands,
marking its place in the woods.
The forest has returned,
as it was before the farmer came
fir and beech, cedar and maple,
here and there a tamarack.
Near the wall of stone lies the rusted skeleton
of the farmer's Model T,
firmly anchored to the ground by a massive oak,
growing true from the innards
of the corroded horseless carriage.
The wall has not changed much
in the passing decades;
the woods has reclaimed its primordial home
where the pasture once lay.
These odd neighbors remain themselves.
One stands at rest, the other never stops
this mutually acceptable coexistence
of stone and wood.
They still tell their story.
The ever-changing woodland
doesn't mind the stark reality of the wall
that stands as a monument
to the farmer and his cows.
I sit, quiet,
listen to the stories offered.
Perhaps, in time, their meaning will surface.
But for now, this flat rock,
that young maple,
and the rugged oak have much to tell,
and I am in no hurry.
Pat Schmohl
February 19, 2019
So sorry to hear of Carl's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys during this difficult time. I will remember all the good times we had together.
Kathy and Fred Brierly
February 19, 2019
So very sorry to hear of Carl's passing. He had a zest for life and a love for family. Thinking of you all with love and sympathy, Kathy and Fred Brierly
Harry Kirsch
February 19, 2019
I am deeply saddened by Carl's passing. I enjoyed being a tennis friend of Carl's for many years and I will miss our discussions. My sincere condolences to his entire family.
Harry Kirsch
Bob Johnson Jr
February 19, 2019
My deepest sympathies to the entire Johnson family. May Carl Rest In Peace.
David Brunelle
February 19, 2019
The Johnson Family
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
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