Obituary: James S. Johnson Jr., 94, Of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — (From Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home): James S. Johnson Jr., 94, of Hamden, passed away peacefully at home on February 22, 2024. He and his twin Albert were born in New Haven on July 2, 1929, to James S. Johnson and Caryl C. Ellis Johnson.

Jim is survived by his wife, Kristin O. Johnson, and his children James S. Johnson, III (Marion), Elizabeth Johnson, and Douglas Johnson (Mary), his stepchildren Laura Seeley (Stuart) and James Woodbridge, his grandchildren, Melissa, Ezra, and Molly, his step-grandchildren Corey and Dexter, and six great-grandchildren and their father, Yaakov Laine. Jim is also survived by his sisters, Mary Alice Frankenberger and Joan Stone.

Jim was predeceased by his twin brother Albert Johnson.

Jim attended Worthington Hooker Grammar School, Hillhouse High School (class of 1947) and Colorado College (BA, 1953). He also served in the United States Navy.

As a young man, Jim worked in the family business, J. Johnson & Sons Clothing Store in New Haven. Later on, he worked for John Hancock Life Insurance, was Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Connecticut Limousine and still later, an agent at Dow Realty.

He served on the Board of Directors of Columbus House, was Division Chairman for the United Way of Greater New Haven, was President of The New Haven Boys Club, and was a grant reviewer for New Haven Foundation. He also proudly volunteered for eight years at Yale New Haven’s Smilow Cancer Center.

Jim enjoyed sailing with Kris on his 30-foot Cape Dory cutter rig. In his later years, he was an avid nature photographer. He was also a devoted Yale University Hockey fan.

Family and friends are invited to honor Jim’s well-lived life on Monday, Feb. 26, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Whitney Center 6th Floor Common, 200 Leeder Hill Drive, in Hamden.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New Haven Boys and Girls Club or the Connecticut Food Bank.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home here.