Thomas Walter Johnson

Thomas Walter Johnson was born September 21,1952 in Ft. Monmouth New Jersey, the oldest child of Thomas Leo & Vivian Beyer Johnson. Tom died November 20, 2020 at home with the “Original 4”; his wife and two daughters after a 15-month battle with cancer.

Tom grew up on the Jersey Shore, where he acquired his life-long love for the water. One of his fondest memories was summer life guarding at Island Beach State Park, where he won many tournaments with his rowing buddy and life-long friend, Chris Hamilton.

While attending college in New Mexico, he met Patty Richards who would become his wife of 46 years. Even in the desert, Tom managed to find water play. Tom and Pats shared passion for boating started in AZ and ended in San Diego, living on a boat full time in retirement. Family vacations typically involved camping, beaching and sailing in Mexico.

Tom will be remembered for his tireless work ethic, pride in building his business (even though he would often say, “I’m just a bread man!”), fierce loyalty to friends and unconditional love to family.
Tom was a big baseball fan;Yankees to be exact! Though never a player; “I couldn’t see the ball coming at me.” Tom shared his love for baseball by  lovingly coaching both Megan and Devin for over a decade in The Mesa Girls Softball League.
His children  and grandchildren would often describe him as a “burnt marshmallow”; crusty, hard exterior but gooey and melty on the inside. Really just a big teddy bear in flip flops and ray-bans!

Survived by: wife, Pat, daughters; Megan (Adam) Lofgran and Devin (Tony) DeCesare, grandsons: Porter Thomas, Jackson, Asher, Anders and Finn Lofgran, baby Tommy DeCesare and 2 granddaughters, Kelli and Gracie DeMasseo, Mother, Vivian Johnson, sister Cathy (Bob) Bialuk and brother Chris (Elise) Johnson.

No services are planned. Toms ashes will be spread coast to coast among his favorite places: the Jersey Shore, Saguaro Lake, AZ and Mariners Cove, San Diego CA. In lieu of flowers or gifts, family’s preferred charity is LymesDisease.org

As a friend commented, “Toms memory will live on like a thunderous echo!”