Henry D. (Doug) Johnson OBITUARY
Henry D. Johnson (Doug) of Unionville passed away unexpectedly on June 28 at Hartford Hospital at the age of 82.
He was born on August 11, 1941 in Harrisburg, PA, second son of Alice and Donald Johnson of Millersburg, PA. He graduated in 1961 with an Associate’s Degree from Valley Forge Military Academy, PA and in 1966 with a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Syracuse University, NY.
Doug began his professional career at Westinghouse Aerospace Division, Friendship Airport, MD as a member of a huge multi-company team developing the then secret project, AWACS. The environment was very intense, but there was still time for some light moments. And that fit Doug perfectly, known to be a creative “outside the box” thinker with a clever wit. At his departure, his department awarded him an “Oscar” for his role as “back view of man operating controls”, a performance in one of their internal management approval films.
Next came the move to Industrial Design Consultants in Farmington, CT where, after a few years, he led their startup operation, Random Industries. The projects varied considerably, from concrete benches that can still be seen outside government buildings and public parks, to wooden beach poles with plastic wind shields, to modern candlesticks of wood and metal, to fiberglass noise shields.
Doug’s next move was dramatically different. He left paid employment to tackle the rebuilding of his Unionville home and become a stay-at-home Dad. One of Doug’s special design skills was packaging which got put into full use when he took on Manager of the Family Moves, a result of the family moving with his wife to consulting assignments all around the country. He proudly would report that the design of his moving boxes and platforms got the trips to the moving truck down from 52 to 15.
His final endeavor was the design of a non-money economy, what he termed Timenomics, the Art of Global Progress. Unfortunately Doug’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease ended this effort before he was able to complete and publish his proposal.
He is survived by his wife Jeanne, son Gregg Johnson and wife Susan, daughter Rebecca Worley and husband Todd, grandsons Jack and Ben Johnson, brother Dave Johnson, brother Andy Johnson and wife Marina, niece Ali Naylor and husband Pat, and cousins Dan Hottenstein and Penny Ramsey.
In Doug’s memory, a donation can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Attention: Donor Services, 225 North Michigan Avenue, 17th floor, Chicago, IL 60601 or online at https://alz.org/donate. Arrangements are being handled by The Ahern Funeral Homes, Inc., www.ahernfuneralhome.com.
