John Johnson:
CLASS OF 1959
Berkeley High SchoolClass of 1959
Berkeley, CA
John's Story
I have not made it to any reunions since 1964 when I was still in grad school. I got a PhD at Cal Berkeley in math, married (still) to Ginny a Spanish Teacher, in 1970, had two sons Eric & David, worked at Boeing in aerospace math for 31 years and am now retired (since 2000) in Redmond, WA near Seattle and have time and money to travel, this year to Egypt, and lecture for U. Washington on Biomimicry (technology copied from animals) and Space Exploration. My son Eric & wife Anita had two girls, now 3 and 6 years old, that live nearby so I (and sometimes Ginny) baby sit a lot.
My main friends were all in Mr. Mencken's math class. He was a great teacher to inspire my math career. I have often remembered him and unsuccessfully tried to contact him. But I had only fond recollections from high school in spite of being a loner. I had my main social activities from th...Expand for more
e High school choir and church group. My only school inter-school sports team was the cross country team (who didn't cut anyone), which I "distinguished" myself by always finishing last. I did make an effort to play basketball by practicing rebounding by jumping up to the rim, although I did not make the school team. Someone nicknamed me "jumping johnny," which I was and still am fond of, but no one uses anymore, except perhaps at a reunion.
I even took a junior class girl to the senior prom because I was too shy to ask an older girl who might turn me down. My other BHS prominence came from a minor solo as Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors (with Jay Manley also). It was a great costume and makeup that is among my late parents slides somewhere. I did play in the crowd scene for "Inherit the Wind" play. My personal email is
johnson at nwcreation.net
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