David Michael Johnson

David M. Johnson died on March 19, 2022 of lung and heart ailments at his home in Arlington, Virginia. He was born in Chicago in 1949, the son of Donald and Margaret Beemsterboer Johnson, and grew up in Chicago and Dolton, IL. After graduating from Thornridge High School in Dolton, David attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1971 with a B.A. in sociology. He attended the University of Connecticut, where he earned an M.A. in sociology in 1974. He then taught sociology for several years at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY while also pursuing a law degree at Fordham University, which was awarded in 1977. He later moved to Washington, DC where he worked for several higher-education associations and finally for the U.S. Department of Education as a program officer with the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, retiring in 2007.

David lived in Arlington with his wife, Barbara Taylor, whom he married in 1989. They traveled extensively, including annual trips to Scotland where he pursued his love of links golf and especially of the iconic Machrihanish Golf Club on the Kintyre Peninsula, where he was a member. David was an avid collector of golf books, amassing more than 1,400 volumes in diverse areas such as history, architecture, essays, and fiction. He also collected music, resulting in a digital library of more than 1,600 songs that he claimed were “the only songs you’ll ever need.” Barbara disagreed with his taste at times but always appreciated his enthusiasm.

In addition to his wife, David leaves two brothers, Donald Johnson (Mari Hughes) of Spokane, WA; Jack (Jenny) Johnson of Mission Viejo, CA; and a sister, Mary Ann Palmer of Los Angeles, as well as nieces, nephews, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Virginia Hospital Center Foundation, Capital Caring Hospice, or a charity of your choice.