Deceased January 21, 2022
View alumni profile (log in required)
Read obituary
In Memory
Charles “Charlie” Johnson of Springfield, Mass., passed away on Jan. 21 following a brief illness.
Charlie was born on Feb. 2, 1928, and his childhood was spent in the picturesque farming hamlet of Hockanum on the Connecticut River in Hadley. After graduating from Amherst College in 1949, he entered the family firm, Johnson’s Bookstore, on Main Street in Springfield. There he met the love of his life, Dorothy “Dottie” Allen. He became a partner in the business and was the company’s third president.
He was a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, business owner and community servant. In Springfield, Charlie was active in the Chamber of Commerce and the United Way, as well as a supporter of the Springfield Symphony and the Majestic Theater. While at his retirement community, Reeds Landing, he was an enthusiastic participant, working on the Vista Project, which opened up views from the rear of the building to Watershops Pond, and spearheading the effort to get a new grand piano donated for the common room. Fittingly, he also coordinated their library for many years.
He was predeceased by his wife, Dottie, and his brother Stephen. He will be greatly missed by his son Clifton ’73 (Sarah), father of Luke (Timur), Adrian (Elizabeth) and Nicholas (Megan); and his second son, Paul ’75 (Sue), parents of Adam, Stewart, Samuel and Abigail (David), who in turn are parents of Charlie’s four great-grandchildren. He will also be deeply missed by the sunshine of his life for the past six years, Buffy Mayo of Wilbraham, Mass.
—Clifton “Chip” Johnson ’73 and Paul Johnson ’75