Michael K Johns

MICHAEL JOHNS of Darnestown, MD and Palm Beach, FL died on July 16, 2017, predeceased by his lovely wife of 54 years, Catherine Vance, in 2005. He is survived by his children: Anna Carvalho and husband David, and grandchildren Christina, John and Julia; William, and granddaughter Catherine Anne; Mary Catherine and grandson Michael Ladas; Christopher and wife Isabel, and granddaughters Angelika and Alexandra; Alexandra and granddaughters Catherine and Anna; in addition to many cousins, nieces, nephews, their spouses and great grand children.

Michael was born in Pocahontas, Virginia on May 29, 1924 to Kosmas Nicholas Eoannou (Johns) and Evanthia Skopelitou. He was a graduate of the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and Johns Hopkins University, and also studied at the Peabody Conservatory. In 1953, Michael completed a masters program at MIT and Harvard with an MS from MIT in engineering. He served in the Army Air Force during WWII as an aircraft and engine mechanic, with specialized training at Texas Tech College, and as a multi-engine pilot in the Air Transport Command.

In 1949, Michael was the chief engineer for the sub-structure and foundations for the eastern half mile of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Annapolis. In 1959, he founded and was the CEO of a structural engineering consulting and design firm. The firm, later Johns and Bhatia, designed and consulted on numerous residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental structures and operated locally, nationally and internationally on every continent. Michael also consulted on numerous distressed projects and building disasters in his practice. He served on a Congressional committee on terrorism, and consulted on the construction of the Kennedy Gravesite.

Catherine and Michael were married on September 8, 1951 at the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Visitation will be at Joseph Gawler’s Sons at 5130 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, DC (Corner of Harrison and Wisconsin) on Thursday, from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm. Valet parking services provided. Services will be held on Friday at 10:00 am at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, at 36th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007 with internment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD.