Robert E. Johnston

Robert E. JohnstonJuly 19 1923 - January 20 2015San JoseBob died as gracefully as he lived, on his own terms, and surrounded by love. He was finally free of his hated brace, worn for 6 years after the fall that broke his neck; he never allowed it to define him. Born to William Ed and Rose (Zwissler) Johnston in North Hollywood, CA, he was preceded in death by his older brother Edwin and survived by his sister Rosemary. He was attending Loyola University in Los Angeles when WWII came along. He enlisted in the army air force, serving as a low-level fighter-bomber pilot in the Pacific and later in the Occupation Army of Japan, flying patrols over much of Japan, including Hiroshima. Bob's wartime experience left him profoundly committed to pacificism and the practice of non-violence, a lesson he passed along to his children. Back home in 1946, he entered Stanford. That summer he began exploring the Sierras, wearing an 80-pound pack, thus beginning a lifelong love affair with the mountains. He shared this passion with all his children and many of his friends until his accident at the age of 85, enriching their lives immensely. It was at Stanford that he met Terry, who was to become his wife and life-partner. They graduated and married in 1948, and he went on to get his MBA in 1950. He worked first for Richmond Chase and later Jennings Radio before finding his true vocation at Center for Employment Training. His and Terry's commitment to the service of the poor and for social justice was an inspiration to his friends and family. Bob walked the walk, from marching with Cesar Chavez in 1965 to protesting the Vietnam war to being arrested while peacefully protesting US aid to the Nicaraguan Contras. His entire family, all generations, have followed in his footsteps.Bob leaves a great legacy in his family: His wife, Terry;11 children and their spouses: Bill and Ayn, Paul and Nancy, Michael and Heidi, Stephen and Kathy, Annie and Judy, Barbara and Ted, Mary and Jeff, Daniel and Becky, David and Sheila, Peter and Andrea, Matthew and Jen; 25 grandchildren and their spouses/partners: Mark and Katie, Kyle and Marlo, Samantha and Hector, Jumiah and Sandra, Tony and Ziba, Jason and Berenice, Patrick, Jessica and Andrej, Kevin and Alexi, Meghan, Katie, Allie, Rose and Adam, Johanna, Ben, Christopher, Kate, Maura, Allie, Sophia, Sarah, Robin and Kenzie, Ruby, Edie, Callum; 9 great-grandchildren: Gabe, Madeline, Noah, Catalina, Danika, Max, Maya, Krysta, and Jessalyn.There isn't room enough to include here the countless people who lived with Bob and Terry, from Maury Shae in 1950 onwards, much less the number of brides he gave in marriage, nor the hundreds of lives he touched - from Christian Family Movement to Guadalupe Parish, from Cana to Cursillo, from Center for Employment Training to Sacred Heart Community Services to his hiking group. Bob always found the good in others and his sense of humor never left him. There will be a community celebration of Bob Johnston's life from noon until 2 PM on Saturday, February 21 at Center for Employment Training, 701 Vine St., San Jose.Please consider donating to a community-based organization. Among causes that Bob supported in his later years were Habitat for Humanity and Sacred Heart Community Services.