Russel Bernard Johnson August 27, 1936 – January 21, 2025
Russel Bernard Johnson, 89, passed away at home on January 21, 2025. A man of quiet depth and wide-ranging curiosity, Russ was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose presence will be deeply missed.
Born in Geneva, Illinois, Russ graduated from Wheaton Community High School before earning his BA and MFA from Michigan State University, going on to teach art at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. In the 1970s and 1980s, he made his mark in Boston's vibrant art scene, exhibiting bold gestural and op art works at Gallery Naga.
Before dedicating himself to art, Russ served his country in the United States Army during the early 1960s, stationed on the island of Quemoy, a remote outpost where he once witnessed visits from Chiang Kai-shek himself. As a teletype operator, he regularly flew to Taiwan on duty, and it was there, wandering through temples and markets on leave, that he developed a lifelong admiration for Asian art, craft, and antiquities. That passion never left him. In later years, he became a member of the Boston Token-Kai, a distinguished group devoted to the study and appreciation of Japanese swords.
Russ was a seeker in the truest sense. In the 1960s, he followed the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and embraced Transcendental Meditation as a practice and a philosophy. He was also an entrepreneur, owning and operating Waterfront Cycles and the Beacon Street Bicycle Shop in Boston for decades.
In his leisure hours, he could often be found walking the paths around Jamaica Pond or wandering through Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord alongside his dear friend Jim. He loved visiting museums, hunting for treasures at antique shops, and watching college football.
Russel is survived by his wife Jean Johnson of Needham, MA; his daughter Jody of San Pablo, CA; his son Justin and daughter-in-law Sarah of Falmouth, MA; and his cherished granddaughter, Livia. He is remembered by all who knew him as a man who moved through the world with curiosity, creativity, and quiet grace. A celebration of life will be held for family and close friends on April 19 in Needham.