In Memory of

Robert

Lee

Johnson

Obituary for Robert Lee Johnson

Robert (Bob) L. Johnson, the retired Director of Resource Management for Aberdeen Proving Ground, died peacefully on Friday, May 11, 2018 at the age of 91. Bob was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland in 1926 to Conrad and Nettie Johnson, and was a life-long resident of Harford County. Upon graduating from Havre de Grace HS in 1944, where he was later inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2011, Bob attended the University of Delaware where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and the first Master of Business Administration degree awarded by the University. In addition, he has studied at Penn State University and Cornell, and is a graduate of the Finance School and the Management Engineering Training Center of the U.S. Army. He is also a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University. An Army veteran of World War II, Bob served in the Southwest Pacific campaign for the liberation of Luzon, Philippine Islands and performed duties in the occupation of Japan. He was recalled to active duty in 1950 and served during the Korean Conflict. Bob amassed over 50 years of federal government service. In 1997, he retired after serving 27 years as Comptroller, Financial Manager and Director of Resource Management of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Among his other contributions, Bob sponsored the development of an accounting and management intern training program for the installation that was adopted throughout the Department of the Army. Bob has served as a guest lecturer on financial management at the U.S. Army Management Staff College and the U.S. Army Logistics Management College. Bob’s other government and community service included serving on the Harford County Budget Advisory Board (Chairman); Special Fiscal and Budget Review Commission Board (Chairman); Planning Advisory Board; Adequate Public Facilities Committee; Sheriff’s Citizens Advisory Committee; Futures Commission; Special Commission on Education; Funding, Efficiency and Accountability; Secondary Education Advisory Group (Chairman); Harford Community College Accounting Curriculum Committee; Salvation Army Advisory Board; and the Finance Committee and Advisory Board of St. Patrick’s Church of where he was also a life-long member. He was a founding member of the Board and Treasurer of the Army Alliance, Inc. and was a member of the Northeast Maryland Technology Council. Bob was a director on the Board of Columbian Federal Savings Bank and Cecil Bancorp. He served as a Management Consultant to the Harford County Public Schools as the Program Coordinator for the establishment of the Science and Math Academy partnership between the Department of Defense (APG) and Harford County. An Award presented to a member of every graduating class has been named in his honor (“Robert L Johnson Award for Excelling in Perseverance and Problem Solving”). Bob has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Baltimore Federal Executive Board Outstanding Supervisor; Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Medal; Department of the Army Commander’s Civilian Service Medal; Clifford R. Gross Award for outstanding Federal Public Service; Baltimore Regional Council of Government’s Partnership Award for Excellence in Regional Leadership; Presidential Citation from the City of Baltimore; citations from the Harford County Executive and County Council; and three Maryland Governor’s Citations; Army Superior Achievement Medal; and the University of Delaware Alumni of Excellence Award. He is also the recipient of two Presidential Letters of Recognition from the President of the United States. Out of all these accolades, there is one that he was the most proud of: his family. He was married for more than 68 years to the love of his life, Alene Blackburn Johnson, who preceded him in death in February of 2017. They are survived and were the honored parents of LTC (Ret) Robert L Johnson, JR and his wife, Dr. Julie Wirth Johnson of Clarksville, Tennessee and Constance A (Johnson) Monsson, RN, Patient Safety Officer for Kirk Army Medical Clinic, APG of Port Deposit, Maryland. Bob was a completely devoted grandfather to Heather (Warner) Neiman and her husband Todd of North East, Maryland, Dan Johnson and wife Celeste of Los Angeles, California, and Robert L Johnson, III of Clarksville, Tennessee. He loved and adored his three great-granddaughters, Danielle Ruggio of Baltimore, Maryland, Adrianna “Emily” Ruggio of Upland, California and Faith Warner of Havre de Grace, Maryland. It was a life well lived.
A viewing will be held at Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 123 South Washington St., Havre de Grace, MD, on Friday, May 18, 2018, from 5-8 PM. A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at 9:30 AM, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 615 Congress Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD.
Contributions may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD, 21093. Online condolences may be made at www.zellmanfuneralhome.com.