March 27, 2014
Johnson, Doris L.
Doris Louise Johnson, born on December 31, 1934 in Boston, MA, passed away on March 26, 2014 in Norwood. She was the daughter of Clarence and Elin (Johnson) Johnson. Doris graduated from Roslindale High School in 1951; Simmons College 1955; Boston University, School of Education in 1979; and did graduate work in microbiology at U Mass Amherst. Shortly after graduating from Simmons, Doris worked at the State Diagnostic Laboratory in Jamaica Plain in the Bacteriology Laboratory for the diagnosis of communicable diseases. In 1961 Doris took a leave of absence to become Director of Youth and Parish Education at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Chicago, IL, through the Lutheran Ministries where she worked with disadvantaged teenagers. Shortly after returning to her job she was promoted to Senior Supervisor in the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program. She and her team sought ways to reduce advances of tuberculosis. She was later appointed Director of the Massachusetts Laboratory Improvement Program where she and her staff conducted and set up proficiency testing, services, lectures and workshops to accomplish these objectives. From a young age Doris spent time on Nantucket Island. She worked summers during college at the old Nantucket Cottage Hospital. Years later she would buy a cottage and spent many happy vacations on the island. Doris belonged to the Aquilo Club of Boston and The Weavers Guild of Boston. She enjoyed dyeing her own yarn and weaving. Her other interests was genealogy, locating family histories for family and friends. She traveled numerous times to Sweden to visit relatives as well as hosting Swedish relatives as they studied in the Boston area. She was a godmother to many children of family and friends. Doris was a long time member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Norwood. She will be missed by her cousins and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 24 Berwick St., Norwood, MA 02062. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church to address listed above or to Simmons College, Office of Advancement, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115.
Comments(5)
On behalf of The Richardson family, Doris was a special member of our extended but small family . We are so saddened by her loss. We have so many fond memories of Christmas eves at East Cross Street , her dad’s adorable red holiday vest, the wonderful Swedish traditions and all the love the Johnson family shared with us. . I always thought of Doris as my godmother and am so fortunate that she was a part of our lives. Our years on Nantucket are filled with memories of gatherings at “this is it” with her and her many adoring friends and Swedish relatives.
We are so grateful that my mom Lillian spoke with her two short weeks ago to let her know we were thinking of her as she was dealing with the challenges posed by all her physical ailments. She will be missed but our wonderful memories will live on. Doris, god bless and may you rest in peace.
I was saddened to hear about Doris’ recent death. I met Doris more than 40 years ago through my friendship with the Richardson family. We faced a similar physical condition and often kept in touch about how we each dealt with the consequences. I always admired her commitment to her family, friends and work. She was loved and will be missed by many.
From our Simmons class of 1954 newsletter, I was saddened to learn that Doris had recently passed away. We were classmates in a small class of 7 in Biology class at Simmons. She was at my wedding. I lost touch with classmates when I went back to China for twenty years. Amazingly digging through internet, she found me and and got me reconnected with Class of 1955. I was going to meet up with her several years ago in Boston, but due to her health we did not. Please convey my condolences to her family and friend.
I have not been able to reach Doris for several months. Was surprised when I learned her phone had been disconnected. I am sorry she has passed away and I missed her memorial service. Her father and my mother’s father were brothers.
My Mother, Marie Fee Sullivan of Nantucket, was a friend of Doris Johnson many years ago. She often spoke of her fondness for Doris. When Marie was diagnosed with dementia, Doris wrote to her c/o my sister Ellen Sullivan.
Her letters were a comfort to us. Marie passed away January 2015 and in our effort to notify Doris we were saddened to discover her loss as well.
Our condolences to Doris’ family and friends.