Robert Segar Johnson, 92, of Brunswick, ME, formerly of Wayland, died peacefully at home on April 27, 2018, seventeen years after the death of his beloved wife, Graceanne Graves Johnson. A resident of Wayland for 60 years, Bob is survived by his children and their spouses: Peter and Carolyn Johnson, Hopkinton; David and Kara Johnson, Brunswick, ME; Anne and Wind Evans, Providence, RI; Tom and Maria Johnson, Westborough; John and Deniz Johnson, Great Falls, VA; Ben and Jessica Johnson, Brunswick, ME; his 16 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Bob’s daughter Mary died in 1988. Bob’s sister Helen resides in Brunswick, ME. His brother Linc died in 1996.
Bob was a lifelong lover of life. His faith was Creation. His religion was Jesus’ Love. He said he discovered both in a foxhole in Alsace Lorraine in the bitter winter of 1944. He graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, CT in 1943, then served as a combat infantryman with the 7th Army’s 100th Division, mustering out as a staff sergeant in 1946.
He graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in 1949 (Class of ’47). His first job in New York was at TIME Magazine (Grace worked for LIFE), followed by two years as a speechwriter for the oil lobby, and two more in public relations for New York Telephone and AT&T.
By 1955, Bob and Grace were more than ready to trade The Big Apple for a vine-covered cottage and a place to raise kids. They did just that, moving to Boston and settling in the western suburb of Wayland.
Bob worked as a copywriter for two ad agencies in Boston – Harold Cabot and Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBDO) – before he and Ed Quinn, a longtime friend, started their own shop in 1960. During the next 20 years, Quinn & Johnson grew to become one of New England’s leading agencies. In 1980, Q&J merged with BBDO.
Visitation Hours will be held on Friday, May 4, 2018 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Rte. 30) Wayland.
Family and friends are invited to go directly to his Mass of Christian Burial at Good Shepherd Parish at St. Ann’s Church, 134 Cochituate Road, Wayland on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Parmenter Foundation, 260 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA 01778 or to CHANS Home Health & Hospice, P.O. Box 279, Brunswick, ME 04011.