Richard H. “Pop” Johnson, 82, passed away February 11, 2013 at home. He was the beloved husband of Jean L. (Auckerman) Johnson for 60 years
He was a son of the late Henry E. and Catherine (Lynch) Johnson. Pop was a school teacher at the Lockwood School for two years and Warwick Veterans Memorial High School for 32 years, where he served as a track coach and retired in 1987. He was a graduate of LaSalle Academy, Class of 1949, where he was All-State, All-New England National School Boy Champion in track and cross country and team captain. He was a graduate of Providence College, Class of 1953, where he was a member of the track and cross country, team captain, class treasurer and cross country honorable mention. He was a graduate of Rhode Island College of Education. Pop was president of the RI Track and Field Association. He was elected to the Track Coaches Hall of Fame and Warwick Veterans Memorial High School Coaches Hall of Fame. A communicant of St. Rita Church, he served as trustee and was a member of the Holy Name Society. Pop received the Jefferson Award, was director of the Warwick Summer Head Start Program and founder and first president of JONAH, Inc. He served as state representative for District #34 from 1982-1990 and as a councilman for the city of Warwick, Ward 6 1991-1992.
Besides his wife; he is survived by four daughters, Kathleen V. Zabbo, Susan J. LeComte (Richard), Mary C. Johnson and Alice V. Johnson, one son, Philip H. Johnson (Wendy); one brother, Robert J. Johnson, one sister, Carol Iannuzzi; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was the father of the late James V. Johnson and father- in-law of the late Dr. August Zabbo.
His funeral will be held Saturday, February 16 at 9 a.m. from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave. with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Rita Church, Oakland Beach Ave. at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery, North Kingstown. Visiting hours Friday 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to St. Rita Church, 722 Oakland Beach Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 or to The Aronson Chair for Neurodegenerative Disorders which includes research and care for Parkinson’s disease. Please address memorials to The Aronson Chair – Butler Hospital Foundation, 345 Blacksone Blvd., Providence, RI 02906. Information and condolences, visit TheQuinnFuneralHome.com
