Brendan Patrick Johnson

Brendan was born January 16th in Florida, and grew up in the D.C. area beginning in third grade. He attended St. James Catholic School (‘08), Gonzaga College High School (‘12), and Dartmouth College (‘16), where he majored in History with a Religion minor.

At each place he made lifelong friends, brought an incredible sense of humor, amazed all with his love of reading, and grew in his love for Christ.

At Gonzaga, Brendan was the 2011 recipient of the Mike Kelleher Scholar-Athlete Award, in recognition of his commitment to scholarship and community service and his participation in athletics. Brendan played rugby and football, where he earned the Iron Eagle Award as the strongest player on the team and First Team All-Conference Honors in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. He did everything from removing the old flooring in the homeless shelter at Gonzaga, to singing the opening number of the school’s production of Li’l Abner. He could often be found in the library or the McKenna Center as Christ’s hands and feet.

He was humbled to receive the Mother Teresa Award for outstanding service in his sophomore year at Gonzaga. Brendan enjoyed the outdoors during his time at Dartmouth, and often, when his parents called to ask about classes, he would share the latest fishing reports on the Connecticut River instead. He loved his friends from Dartmouth with whom he shared a love of the outdoors and all things “Big Green.”

After college, Brendan grew in his love for Washington, D.C., and he could often be found sporting WFT, Nats, or Caps paraphernalia. He worked with PNC Realty Investors in their Washington office, where he was a treasured friend and colleague. Everyone in his neighborhood knew him and loved him, and he would stop to say hello and talk to every single person on the street while on his frequent long walks. He loved the outdoors, fishing, hiking, and campfires, usually while wearing his ever-present tasseled loafers.

Brendan was a genuine and caring person, loving all, particularly those who needed it most, and always putting others before himself. He was the most fun person to be around, always making you laugh with his goofy humor when he somehow knew you really needed it. He found hope in his faith, attending Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in D.C., and truly cared for the least of the brothers of Christ.

Brendan is preceded in death by his grandparents Hugh Beins, Bill Johnson, Sr., and Joanne Johnson. He is survived by his parents Katie and Bill, siblings Willie, Caroline, and Joe, grandmothers Mary Elizabeth Beins (“Meema”) and Mary Devito, his loving and courageous friend, loved one, and confidante Anisha, and by many beloved uncles, aunts, and devoted and loyal cousins and friends. Brendan was passionate about supporting environmental stewardship, reentry to society after imprisonment, and providing homes for the poor.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be considered to aid these efforts, in particular Project Healing Waters, www.projecthealingwaters.org , which is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and outdoor activities. He was also proud to support Trout Unlimited, www.tu.org , and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, www.cbf.org

Brendan’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated March 19 at 1:30pm at Saint James Catholic Church in Falls Church, VA. Livestream will be available for those unable to attend in person.

Be thou at peace, our beloved son, brother, and friend.