Malak Abd El Ghaffar

Professor Kim Fox

Multimedia Writing
JRMC 2202

Obituary Assignment
Riverdale’s Finest Community-Contributor dies at 74

John J.Johnson, died on Monday night, at 74 years of age as a result of suffering

from a spontaneous heart attack, during the first quarter of Riverdale High school

basketball game which was against Geneva.

His father served for a long time as a minister of the First Presbyterian Church of

Riverdale where he was born and raised at 1111 Main St. where. Johnson spent his early

years playing basketball for Riverdale University where he used to study. He was noticed

as one of Riverdale’s finest basketball players as he was an all-conference performer. Just

like many during Johnson’s time, he was sentenced back in 1944 for draft evasion and

served six months in prison.

Johnson received an MBA degree from Riverdale University back in 1950.

Known for being an extra positive community-contributor, Johnson served as a member

of the Riverdale School Board for nearly a decade. He was also a member of the

Riverdale City Council from the year for up to eight years. He did not stop there, he was

even able to achieve being the president of the State Banker’s Association in 1977 as well

as Farmer’s Bank in Riverdale.

 The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the McGrew-Jones Funeral Home

located in 2121 Central Ave., in Riverdale. Johnson lived with his wife, Helen, the only

survivor. She might not want to receive contributions as she suggested that flowers

would better be sent to the local heart association. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.