Johanna Riley Evans

10/4/1976 - 3/1/2025

Niantic - Johanna Riley Evans was born in Bangor, Maine Oct. 4, 1976. Her teenage years were spent in Ithaca, N.Y. This is where she developed her love for track and field. She continued her athletic and academic journey at the University of Maine in Orono, on an athletic scholarship. This is where she met her husband Travers Evans.

She competed in collegiate track from 1994 to 1998. In the '96-'97 season, Johanna was the New England Champion in the indoor pentathlon. She held multiple UMaine school records, and was inducted into the UMaine Hall of Fame in 2016. She also won the Dean Smith Award for the top student-athlete at the University. Johanna earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and master's degree in environmental engineering from the University of Maine with multiple academic honors.

Johanna has four beautiful children, all of whom were born in Maine. In 2016, her family made the transition to Florida. Johanna went back to school at the Florida Institute of Technology to fulfill her lifelong dream of getting her Ph.D. in ocean engineering. She accomplished this in December of 2022. She spent many years in Florida, but never adjusted to the climate. A new job opportunity also offered the family the opportunity to move to East Lyme, in the summer of 2024. Johanna loved the outdoors and exploring, so New England always felt more like home. Hiking, skiing, paddling, biking, diving and running with her family/friends were her favorite activities. She settled down in her cozy Connecticut home with her husband and two youngest children. Her oldest daughter is in college for biomedical engineering, and her oldest son is an electrician. Johanna was also very active volunteering with Team Rubicon for disaster relief, Habitat for Humanity, and was an organ donor upon her death.

She passed away in peace at Yale New Haven Hospital on the morning of March 1, 2025. Johanna is survived by husband Travers Evans; children: Riley Evans, Taylor Evans, Acadia Evans and Ian Evans; mother Ruth Shaw (Dick Wilkins); and brothers, Ian Riley (Bobbie-Jo) and Robin Riley (Mary Flannigan); paternal grandfather John Evans (Sandra White); sister-in-law Maura Evans (Bryson Deppe); brother-in-law Jesse Evans; niece Chelsea; and nephews: Caleb, Colby, Corbin and Walker. She was predeceased by her father John Riley.

A Celebration of Life will be conducted this spring/summer in Acadia National Park per her wishes.