Richard A Johnson

Richard A. Johnson passed away January 13, 2021 in New London,

Connecticut. He was born May 1, 1927, in Westbrook, Maine, to Everett

and Frances Johnson. They moved to South Bridgton ME when little

Richard was three months old. He grew up in the house by the saw

mill. His infatuation with books started at an early age. He became

an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction and amassed a

collection of tens of thousands of books. When all the bookshelves in

his house were filled, he built more bookshelves, on wheels, in front

of them.

Dick graduated from Bridgton High in 1945 and was keen to become a

pilot, so he signed up for the Army Air Forces. But by the time he

finished basic training, the need for fighter pilots had ended and he

was assigned to the motor pool. Being Everett's son, he could drive

anything that could move. He was part of the post-war occupying force

in Europe. Two years later the Air Force broke apart from the Army

and he chose to re-enlist in the Army. He went to officers candidate

school, refused his commission ("I didn't want to be an officer. I

just wanted to know what the officers knew."), and received an

honorable discharge in 1949.

Richard married Maybelle Blake of Naples, Maine, in June of 1950. The

couple moved to Poquonnock Bridge, Connecticut, for the first of

their 70 years together. Richard started working as a mathematician

at Electric Boat in Groton while also taking classes at the

University of Connecticut. In 1955 they moved a few miles north to

Norwich CT. Soon he had a degree in mathematics, and started a job

across the Thames River from EB at the Navy's Sound Lab in New

London. There he became a computer programmer, among the first

generation of people to be so-called. The Sound Lab became the

Underwater Systems Center, where he worked as a programmer until his

retirement in 1989.

Baseball was also part of Dick's life from an early age. He played

for the high school team and the Bridgton town team, which consisted

of mostly adults. He loved to tell of the time he got to watch Jimmy

Foxx play at Fenway Park. He and Maybelle watched all the games

together. That's 162 dates per year. Plus spring training and

sometimes the playoffs! Often he would keep score, just for fun.

Richard was also a music lover with a fine ear for pitch. He sang for

seven decades in the choir at Central Baptist Church in Norwich. He

was also a life member of the Barbershop Society (SPEBSQSA) and sang

baritone with both the Norwich and Providence RI chapters and in

several quartets.

Chess was another of Dick's favorite avocations. He played in

tournaments throughout New England. He also directed many tournaments

in Norwich and New London and one year directed the New England Open.

Perhaps most importantly, he patiently taught his three children to

play chess.

Dick owned a set of golf clubs and tooks his sons out to play. He

also bowled and owned a set of duckpin balls and a couple of tenpin

balls, although his real love was candlepin bowling.

Dick learned Morse Code in the 1950's and for a while kept a Ham

Radio operator's license. In the 60's he took flight classes and

achieved his long-time goal of gaining a pilot's license. And he took

us up not to go anywhere but just for the magic of it. "Look, we're

flying!"

Richard is preceded in death by his youngest son, Eric, his sister

June Peaco (Johnson), sister-in-law Evelyn Blake and his brother-inlaw

Gordon Peaco. His wife, Maybelle, died the same morning as Dick.

They were exposed to COVID together the last week of December. He is

survived by his brother, Lee Johnson, and sister-in-law Judy Johnson

of Bridgton ME, brother-in-law Wilfred Blake of Voluntown CT,

children Frank of Albuquerque NM and Rosemary of Norwich, daughtersin-

law Lee Ann Johnson (nee Backer) of Oakdale and Zelda Gordon of

Albuquerque NM, granddaughters Stephani Goss and Kelley Johnson,

grandson Lee Johnson of CT and many Johnson, Blake, Peaco and other

nieces and nephews and beyond.

No services will be held at this time. Please visit www.churchandallen.com to

leave a memory for his family.