A00420 - Edward Theodore Johnson, Jr., Amherst College Class of 1962, Western Reserve Academy (Hudson, Ohio) Graduate. Yale University Architecture Degree, Noted Boston Architect
The next name on the Memorial List after Fred Lewis Wallace, Amherst College Class of 1961, is Edward Theodore Johnson, Jr., Amherst College Class of 1962. Ed was the first African American student to attend the prestigious Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. At Amherst, Ed was a Fine Arts major. He joined Chi Psi fraternity and participated on the soccer and outdoor track teams. After graduation, Ed matriculated in the Yale University School of Architecture which would propel on to a career as an architect. The In Memory page written for Ed describes his time at Amherst
In Memory
Edward T. Johnson Jr. died on October 6th, 2018, after a very long and valiant battle with cancer. Ed was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 20th, 1940, to the late Dr. Edward T. and Camille Johnson. He was also preceded in death by his only child, daughter Brittany, and his wife of 25 years Charlette BrownJohnson. He is survived by his beloved sister Judyann Elder, television and movie actress, and his brother James, a writer.
Before Amherst, Ed was the first black boarding student at the exclusive Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, where he was an outstanding scholar and athlete. Although the Johnsons lived less than two miles away from us in Cleveland, I didn’t meet Ed until we both had summer jobs with the Cleveland City Planning Commission, where he greatly enjoyed working with surveys of land use, housing quality and other issues; this may have helped propel him toward his career in architecture.
At Amherst, Ed became a Fine Arts major; he pledged Chi Psi and lettered in track. He was also very active playing piano at mixers and parties throughout the three college campuses. On Sundays, he really enjoyed playing the Stearns Steeple carillon. After graduation, Ed took a degree in architecture at Yale; after a few years of apprenticeship at illustrious organizations in Boston, he established his own firm and worked on many projects in Boston.
After his academic pursuits, Ed pledged one of the major black national fraternities, Omega Psi Phi, and was very active in the chapter, as well as leading youth programs for his church. His architectural masterpiece, a three-level home for a retiring Boston doctor, overlooking the Caribbean in St. Croix, remains under construction, but Ed was thrilled to work with progress pictures and reports until the end.
--Lowell Henry’62
Edward Theodore Johnson, II
Edward Johnson, II Obituary
On Saturday, October 6, 2018, Edward Theodore Johnson II, Servant of Christ, Master Architect, Inventor and Author, passed away at the age of 78 after a long struggle with cancer.
Born May 20th, 1940 to Edward Theodore Johnson and Camille Ulysses Russell Johnson in Cleveland Ohio, He is preceded in death by his only child, daughter Brittany Dunreath Johnson and wife of 25 years Charlette Ann Brown-Johnson.
Ed was a giant of man, figurative and literally. Charismatic, genteel and witty, he was a man of “firsts” within his many seasons of life who was modest about his many accomplishments
Eldest brother to James and Judith Ann, he grew up in Cleveland’s Lower East Side. Building on the family’s mid-western heritage that reached back into 15th century Caddo Indians in East Texas and Arkansas, early 1800’s Algonquin Indians, while other ancestors are found along the Western Reserve in the southern Ohio Tuscarawas trails along the Ohio River Valley and Cadiz, Ohio.
Edward came from a long legacy of excellence and brilliance. His grandfather James Westcomb Johnson, a gifted builder of houses, and inventor of the steel-belted radial tire that helped stabilize the early iterations of Ford’s model T. Ed’s father, also a gifted man, received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education (1932) and his Master’s Degree from Ohio State University (1933). He was awarded a graduate study scholarship in Human Relations at New York University during the summer of 1943. His father went on to pursue his doctorate in education from Case Western Reserve University in 1955. A science teacher and humanitarian, he taught Ed discipline and patience. His mother Camille, a renaissance woman and student of the law who studied at Wilberforce and John Caroll Universities, taught him to be an explorer of the sublime to the profane, and to thrive on fearless pursuit and joy in the arts from the cradle. Planted in such a dynamic and rich soil, Ed was primed to summit the mountains of life.
Edward applied and was accepted into Western Reserve Academy becoming the institution’s first black border and graduate (1954-1958). Despite many thinly veil racist insults, including the unwillingness of the village’s barber to cut his hair, Ed demonstrated what would become his hallmark: transforming challenges into a launching pad to break barriers. He became Reserve’s varsity track captain and excelled as a student of the German language. Awarded the Robinson Prize presented to the graduating student deemed to have made the greatest advances academically, athletically and morally, and was ranked 12th in a class of 60.
Utilizing the advice of his Reserve academic advisor he attended Amherst College intending to start a career in medicine although the sight of blood during chemistry class revealed his future lie with other endeavors. Whilst matriculating, Ed’s love of music and prose was awakened. Freshman year he heard Robert Frost lecture. Creative writing instructor, poet and translator Rolfe Humphries taught him narrative and iambic pentameter. He was happiest playing jazz piano, and was privileged to be accompanied by Bryant Robey, Fred Rodgers and Dick Broughton. He also discovered the comradery of the Greek collegiate life by becoming the first black inductee of Alpha Chi chapter of Chi Psi Fraternity. In 1962 he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine arts degree.
Amidst the very turbulent times of the 1960’s, Ed embarked on yet another ambition endeavor: enrollment in Yale University Graduate School. Graduating in 1968, he was the first black man to earn a Master of Architecture degree from the prestigious institution.
Edward entered his professional career soon after completion of his studies. He apprenticed under Robert Prince Madison, FAIA, worked under David Jacob at Roche-Dinkeloo, designed in the Boston office of Bertrand Goldberg, and a 2-year stint as a lines and grades engineer for Vappi & Sons (1972-74) and serving with distinction as OSHA Safety Rep under J. Kevin Hurton, and assisting flying forms master draughtsman Paul S. Barton. He designed corporate identity signage for GTE.
1974 had 2 momentous achievements for Edward; first, he obtained U.S. Patent of Letters #3,787,909, for his research and development process of linking flexible urethane blocks with Velcro fasteners. Second, he started his architectural design practice: Edward T Johnson & Associates or ETJ&A.
The start of yet another journey began in 1976, pledging to the Eta Phi gradute chapter of Omega Psi Phi. Known as the “Solidified Six” his line brothers Edwin Waters, George F. Robinson, Rev. Grainger Browning,Jr., Leon Wilson and Rev Vincent Yancey, Sr. built a fast friendship lasting 42 years. Stories and memories of Ed during these times still caused great laughter and joy. They and their Omega brothers are very involved in their community and national affairs. Solidified Six have become prominent in their own respective careers and organizations.
In 1982, Edward received a precious gift, his only daughter Brittany Dunreath Johnson born November 20th. Tragically She passed away of unknown natural causes on January 13th, 2013. She was 31 years old.
One evening Edward was attended a Jazz performance at Copley Plaza and met Charlette Ann Brown a vocalist who spoke to his musical spirit. They fell in love and married after a short courtship. Together 25 years, Edward gladly serve as her main caregiver, she having suffered a massive stroke early in their union.
Edward and Charlette followed God’s call on their lives, were baptized and joined the Church of Christ. Ed began working within a ministry called Boys to Teens. He had a deep devotion to the young men in his charge; it was evident that this was also part of his life’s work. Being a member of the Church of Christ was deeply soul edifying. Minister MarkCraigwell and Ed had many meaningful talks about his Christian journey.
Edward was diagnosed with cancer more than a decade ago; he fought the good fight, going into remission several times. The last 4 years were increasing difficult with the death of his wife in 2014.
Edward T Johnson II leaves an enduring legacy, designing many projects beautifying the Boston landscape including: St Elizabeth's Hospital of Boston, Brighton, MA ($54M+ renovations), Carney Hospital parking deck and Codman Square Health Center.
He worked as production coordinator with local Boston artists helping them to bring to fruition their creations. He applied his prodigious talents across a dizzying array of design platforms which crisscross from buildings to furniture, clothing and flags.
As his health was fading, Ed entered into a partnership with Charles Bradley to continue his design efforts.
His final project was Casa Duvall, was Ed’s pride and joy. A stunning 3 level island country estate, design to rest on the shores of a U.S Virgin Island. It is his masterpiece.
Edward is survived by his brother James Johnson, Sister Judith Ann Elder and many friends
Edward’s final words were “too be continued”
Rest in Peace Dear Brother
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