Robert A. Johnson ’59

Robert A. Johnson ’59 passed away on May 2 at Bridgeport (Connecticut) Hospital surrounded by his immediate family. Bob entered Dartmouth from Attleboro (Massachusetts) High School. At Dartmouth, he majored in French and was a member of Le Cercle Français. As a member of the WDCR directorate, Bob helped make WDCR a network station. The NROTC led to active duty on a destroyer during the Berlin Crisis and the earliest days of the Vietnam War. He retired from the Navy Reserve in 1982, having risen to the rank of commander. Bob earned French and linguistics master’s at Brown. He earned an advanced studies certificate in administration and curriculum from Fairfield (Connecticut) University. From 1963 to 1996 Bob taught French at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut. In the early 1980s he found renewed interest in Dartmouth alumni circles, holding every office in the local alumni club. He served on the Dartmouth Alumni Council representing southern New England and the class executive committee, edited the class newsletter, and was co-chair of the 1959-2009 connection during the 50th reunion. Bob was past president of the Contemporary Club of Bridgeport, a reader at the Covenant Churches of Easton-Westport, Connecticut, and a past trustee of the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church of Fairfield. He found enrichment as a member in the local YMCA’s Men’s Club, where he became an excellent photographer in its camera club. Bob and his wife, Arlene, traveled extensively in retirement. Arlene, children Matthew and Rachel ’92 and a granddaughter survive Bob.