Paul Johnson Obituary

I was fortunate to have had PJ as a teacher and coach in the early 70s. I admired him very much and liked him even more. My prayers are with him and his entire family.

To the Johnson Family:

I was lucky enough to have played for your father at SHS in the late in the early 70's. That time of my life includes some of my happiest memories - largely because of your father.

When I look back on why I cherish that time so much it was because not only did I play for a great hockey coach; I was blessed to be influenced by an even greater man who helped shape my life.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless all of you and our beloved Coach "PJ".

Gerry Hayden
SHS 1972

Laurie & Paul, I am so sorry to learn of your father's passing. He was a great coach, an institution. He will be missed by all. Sending heartfelt condolences to you and yours.

More messages from Paul's classmates:

My condolences and best to Paul's family.
Jon Story SHS'58, Wells, Vermont

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Unable to attend Calling Hours because a 2nd knee operation will take 6-9 months to be back to normal.
My deepest sorrows go out to Paul's family.
Dick Smith SHS'58, Scituate, MA

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So sorry for our loss. Maybe someday we will all meet again for a heavenly reunion.
Judy Breen Jacobucci SHS'58, Vero Beach, FL

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Sorry to hear of Paul's passing and I regret I did not have a chance to say something to him.
I am also sorry that our class has lost a good friend.
Paul Roy SHS'58, Schwenksville, PA

Paul was an amazing athlete who I held in the highest regard. I have fond memories of him especially around the joy of watching him play football and the success of the teams that he led. One in particular is the many times we got to ride in his truck around Scituate after the many wins of the football team.

So sorry to hear about Paul. What a great friend and terrific athlete. Many still-vivid memories of sports with him, all the way back to Little League. The model of strength, grace and courage in all that he did. But he was a great coach too. As outstanding as he was in all sports, he was modest as can be. I can not attend services -- am wrapped up in my son's latest tumor crisis -- but my sympathies, and praise for Paul, go out to his family.

R.I.P. coach Johnson

Coach PJ picked me up from the hospital one day in September when I was 16 years old. Ailments and injuries from football are imminent and eventually heal. Yet based on his questions on the ride home, PJ was more concerned with greater things..."how do you like your classes?"..."who do you have for teachers?"..."do you and your brothers take turns cooking dinner at home?"..."what do you eat for breakfast?" While such inquiries seem innocuous, my answers would provide crucial intel for PJ who was duly invested in my well-being off the field. At the dawn of our championship season, PJ handed to each player a poem which began:

'If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you'd like to win but you think you can't, it's almost a cinch you won't
If you think you'll lose, you've lost
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a person's will
it's all in the state of mind'

For those who didn't know PJ, I'd describe him as having the swagger of Steve McQueen and the heart of your best friend. Always an infectious smile, he genuinely cared. PJ conveyed to me with great pride ten years ago that his grandson (PJ3) was tasked with choosing a hero in his life to write about. With a beaming grin, PJ the patriarch said, "out of everyone in the world, he chose me." I shared this with his grandson last Sunday to which the 21 year old PJ3 said, "choosing him was an easy one." And that tells us everything we need to know about the man we called Coach.

Coach PJ picked me up from the hospital one day in September when I was 16 years old. Ailments and injuries from football are imminent and eventually heal. But based on his questions during the ride home, PJ was more concerned with greater things...how do you like your classes?...who do you have for teachers?... do you and your brothers take turns cooking dinner at home?...what do you eat for breakfast? While such inquiries seem innocuous, the answers would provide crucial intel for PJ who was duly engaged in my well-being off the field. At the dawn of our championship season, PJ handed to each player a poem which began: 'If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't. If you'd like to win but you think you can't, it's almost a cinch you won't. If you think you'll lose, you've lost. For out of the world we find, success begins with a person's will, it's all in the state of mind'. For those who didn't know PJ, I'd describe him as having the swagger of Steve McQueen and the heart of your best friend. Always an infectious smile, he genuinely cared. PJ conveyed to me with great pride ten years ago that his grandson (PJ 3) was tasked with choosing a hero in his life to write about. With a beaming grin, PJ the patriarch said, out of everyone in the world, he chose me. I shared this with his grandson last Sunday to which the now 21 year old PJ3 said, choosing him was an easy one. And that tells us everything we need to know about the man we called Coach.

V

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Johnson family. We have such great memories of Paul Sr.

May he rest in peace.

Jeff and Jacqui Watt

Hi Fran---Sincere condolences on the loss of Paul--He was always a gentleman whenever I saw him--Sincerely,Noel Constantino

My condolences to the Johnson family.

May he Rest in Peace. He was a wonderful man. Never speaking to me as if I was invisible. Always a nod of his head & a kind HI how are you... I respected Mr Johnson for showing me he was honestly a kind person.... Thanks for the memories - God Speed A&W FOREVER ☮✝
Lisa Cortez - Lauzon

Rest in the sweetest peace Paul or "coach" I will miss your popcorn and your gentle presence at the Plymouth COA

offering my deepest condolences to Paul and his family during the very difficult time

My deepest condolences to Paul's family. My thoughts and my prayers are with you at this difficult time.
I had Paul as a coach and teacher in the late 60's. He was a very warm and engaging man. He had a great sense of humor and he was genuinely fun to be around.
Even after graduation the A&W shop in Marshfield, where he worked summers for his brother, was a mandatory stop for many of us to say ,"Hi" and catch up.
He will be missed by all who knew him. There were too few like him in this world. Godspeed Paul!

To the Johnson family,

I am so sorry for your loss. Coach Johnson was a great coach, and he took his coaching responsibilities seriously, even when he was just teaching gym class. I remember the time I wiped out on the track while running a race during gym class. I was mortified, but he told me that the fall was no big deal, and I should never be embarrassed for giving it my all. I share that story because it happened more than 30 years ago, but I still remember it he knew just what to say to inspire a clumsy, nerdy kid not to give up. He treated everyone that way with kindness and encouragement because he cared deeply about SHS and the students.

Rest in Peace, Coach Johnson.

It is a sad time but I enjoy the wonderful memories people have of Paul. As a former football coach at Silver Lake l remember the competitive games we used to have against a Paul Johnson coached team. My condolences to the family.

To the Johnson family
Our prayers and love to all in this time of deep loss. Mr. Johnson was a wonderful teacher and leader.

Someone once said that kids don't remember what you teach them, they remember what you are. For so many of us, Coach Johnson was a port in the storm: a respected, strong and fair leader who seemed always to be more concerned about individual kids than he was himself. He expressed that concern discretely and personally, such that so many of us have a story to tell about how he gave us strength and confidence when we needed it most. When we knew him as a Coach in the 70's and 80's, he wasn't pining for return of his athletic glory (and he certainly had some of that). He was looking around for kids who were struggling, and somehow telling us that he knew we would succeed. We'll remember him as a talented and humble man, one that many of us were so lucky to find.

Losing a friend is never easy. Uncle Paul was a best friend, always there, always compassionate, always obliging. I recall our ski trips with 4 kids, first thing in the A.M. and off to New Hampshire or Maine. Some trips, up and back on the same day, time went so fast it never seemed like a long ride. Hours of I went to the Market and or I went on a trip and packed or tongue twisters, providing belly laughs and keeping all entertained.
Our Trips to the beach: Swimming, at Hatches Harbor, or Sandy Neck or Duxbury. Cook outs, hotdogs and special recipes' created by Uncle Paul. The families being together and sharing special moments will always be cherished.
Our annual roto tiller rental for the back yard garden, with two old men trying to tame an out of control machine, could have been a scene from a TV sitcom.
Thanks for all the memories, good times, and a friend who will now look down and watch over us.
Uncle Dave and Judy

To the family of Paul Johnson. Paul was a great hockey player. I played with Paul in the Cohasset Executive League. We had many good times together. I will miss Paul. Charlie Hoar.

To: Paul's Family

This is a sad time for all. Paul was a good friend for over 60 years. My feeling of sympathy and commiserations are with you all. I have a few words to describe our friendship.

I grew up in Scituate playing football, hockey and baseball with Paul. Paul went on to BU and I went on to St. Lawrence to play football and hockey. After our college days, we played some pick-up hockey at Breen's rink in Cohasset. After we got old and gray, I joined Paul, Dave Ward and Don Allan for lunch at Friendly's each year to celebrate their birthdays. I'm sure we will continue the lunches and have fond memories of Paul.

Fond Remembrances:

When Paul first got his drivers license, he borrowed his brother Dick's brand new 1955 Chevy convertible (Dick was a professional baseball pitcher that had just got a signing bonus and bought the new red and white convertible.) Paul picked up Don Allan and drove over to my house. We spent the better part of a clear and cold winter day (20 degrees) driving around Scituate in Dick's new car with the top down, windows up and the heater blasting away to keeps us warm. We had a ball!

After we had a pre season football scrimmage with Arch Bishop Williams, we decided to go clamming on the flats off of 3rd Cliff next to the North River. The gang included Paul, Don Allan, George Rodgers, Dick Ladd, Jimmy McGinnis and others I can't recall. We were in pain after the scrimmage, but we managed to get a bucket of clams. We had a problem. We didn't have a shell fishing license and all the clams we dug were under size! The Shell Fish Warden caught us and made us plant them all back. We got off easy, but it was an experience to remember.

My Best to all,

Ron Rencurrel - SHS'58

Very Sorry for your loss. He was a great Coach and a great guy.

To: Paul's Family,

This is a sad time for all. Paul was a good friend for over 60 years. My feeling of sympathy and commiserations are with you all. I have a few words to describe our friendship.

I grew up in Scituate playing football, hockey and baseball with Paul. Paul went on to BU and I went on to St. Lawrence to play football and hockey. After our college days, we played some pick-up hockey at Breen's rink in Cohasset. After we got old and gray, I joined Paul, Dave Ward and Don Allan for lunch at Friendly's each year to celebrate their birthdays. I'm sure we will continue the lunches and have fond memories of Paul.

Fond Remembrances:

When Paul first got his drivers license, he borrowed his brother Dick's brand new 1955 Chevy convertible (Dick was a professional baseball pitcher that had just got a signing bonus and bought the new red and white convertible.) Paul picked up Don Allan and drove over to my house. We spent the better part of a clear and cold winter day (20 degrees) driving around Scituate in Dick's new car with the top down, windows up and the heater blasting away to keeps us warm. We had a ball!

After we had a pre season football scrimmage with Arch Bishop Williams, we decided to go clamming on the flats off of 3rd Cliff next to the North River. The gang included Paul, Don Allan, George Rodgers, Dick Ladd, Jimmy McGinnis and others I can't recall. We were in pain after the scrimmage, but we managed to get a bucket of clams. We had a problem. We didn't have a shell fishing license and all the clams we dug were under size! The Shell Fish Warden caught us and made us plant them all back. We got off easy, but it was an experience to remember.

My Best to all,

Ron Rencurrel

Sincere condolences to the extended Family who called Paul Johnson by any name such as husband, father, brother, friend or coach. Throughout his life he had a positive impact on thousands of people by being real, jovial, tough when needed, driven and devoted. He did his part to make world a better place. Rest In Peace Coach Johnson.

Thoughts and prayers with you. Loved my days playing football for him, a wonderful human being.
SHS 75

To: Paul's Family

This is a sad time for all. Paul was a good friend for over 60 years. My feeling of sympathy and commiserations are with you all. I have a few words to describe our friendship.

I grew up in Scituate playing football, hockey and baseball with Paul. Paul went on to BU and I went on to St. Lawrence to play football and hockey. After our college days, we played some pick-up hockey at Breen's rink in Cohasset. After we got old and gray, I joined Paul, Dave Ward and Don Allan for lunch at Friendly's each year to celebrate their birthdays. I'm sure we will continue the lunches and have fond memories of Paul.

Fond Remembrances:

When Paul first got his drivers license, he borrowed his brother Dick's brand new 1955 Chevy convertible (Dick was a professional baseball pitcher that had just got a signing bonus and bought the new red and white convertible.) Paul picked up Don Allan and drove over to my house. We spent the better part of a clear and cold winter day (20 degrees) driving around Scituate in Dick's new car with the top down, windows up and the heater blasting away to keeps us warm. We had a ball!

After we had a pre season football scrimmage with Arch Bishop Williams, we decided to go clamming on the flats off of 3rd Cliff next to the North River. The gang included Paul, Don Allan, George Rodgers, Dick Ladd, Jimmy McGinnis and others I can't recall. We were in pain after the scrimmage, but we managed to get a bucket of clams. We had a problem. We didn't have a shell fishing license and all the clams we dug were under size! The Shell Fish Warden caught us and made us plant them all back. We got off easy, but it was an experience to remember.

My Best to all,

Ron Rencurrel

A good neighbor, excellent teacher - coach and an even better man. Godspeed.

So very sorry for your loss. He was a great mentor, coach and neighbor for all of us growing up on Aberdeen Drive.

Paul I am so so sorry for the loss of your father .. You have been a great friend always !! I new your dad he was a great person .. My thoughts and heart felt prayers are with you Mike and your sister !! Sad days buddy sad days !!! Love u Paul

Sorry for you loss, Coach Johnson was a great guy. Always so kind and nice to us. I remember his yummy popcorn in the brown paper bag, he always shared with us before we were heading to our soccer games!

Julie Blanchard Connor

I'm sorry for your loss!! He was so passionate about his sports and was truly dedicated to the youth and his job. I have many great memories from his ove of sports to his famous brown bag of popcorn!! He will be sorely missed and was blessed to have him as a teacher.

Prayers to all the Johnson family,, Coach Johnson was a great man as well as a super coach,, so many memories and laughs from back in the day, I remember I went out for the shs hockey team but didn't have any equipment, So coach went to his cellar and dug out his old gear from the 50s&60s, what a howl , all super heavy leather stuff ,,What A GUY'' WILL BE MISSED''

Mr. Johnson was always someone I looked up to from the moment I entered SHS. He was for sure one of my favorite educators. My condolences tom the entire Johnson family

PJ, Pauline, Sammy and PJ

So sorry to hear of the loss of a very special loved one, dad and grandfather.
Peter and Dee

So very sorry for your loss.

Paul,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in the loss of your dad.
Tina & Mark Mahoney

Cathy and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Johnson. He was a wonderful man and a fantastic football coach. He taught me many things which I carry with me to this day, and have imparted to my own daughters...to work hard, as a team, and love the game...to never quit and always "take one more step" when about to be tackled, or face adversity. Often that makes the difference, and you keep going. I will miss Coach Johnson, and extend my deepest sympathy to Paul Jr, and his entire family. Tom Hall

PJ,
Sorry to hear of your father's passing. His influence on me as a player and a person has stayed with me over the years, like I am sure it has for many who played football and hockey at SHS. A great coach and a great guy. He will be missed.
Del

Cathy and I are saddened to hear of Coach Johnson's passing. He was a wonderful man and a fantastic football coach. He taught me many things which I have carried throughout my life, and imparted to my own children. One was to play together, as a team, work hard and enjoy the game. Another was to never give up, "to take one more step" when you're about to get tackled -- more often then not, taking that extra step, keeps you upright and going strong. We will miss Coach Johnson and extend our deepest sympathy to his family. Tom Hall

Pauline,PJ,and "kids", Tony and are so sorry for your loss. May your memories bring you peace.Sandy and Tony Cortese

PJ
I am so sorry to hear about your dad. He was such a influence to all of us who played for him.
He will be sorely missed.
The Best,
Brad

Sincere condolences and frayers for Pauls family and friends at this time
Jack Finegan
SHS 58

paul; you will always be fondly remembered. many many family gatherings for cookouts, holiday gatherings, birthday parties, etc., going way back to the early '60's. always a pleasure to talk with you. great smile, always positive, never gave up. i will miss you big man. may you rest in peace. you will always be a valued member of our family. your loving brother in law nick ward

Very sorry to hear of Coach Johnson's passing. He was a wonderful teacher and friend. He will be missed

I love and miss you dad. RIP. Your daughter, katie

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

I was left with a very heavy heart when my beloved classmate and best friend passed away. Sharon and I cut short our trip back from Florida and I was able to be with Paul for almost 3 hours on his last night here. Frannie, Lori and Sharon were there to help me more than him. Paul was in a deep coma and couldn't speak. But I was able to talk to him about our special times together and reminisce about his life with the others, especially with his daughter Lori.

He was a special athlete, coach and classmate. I was blessed that we were best friends starting in 7th grade, all through our school years. For the last 15 years, we got together for lunch between our birthdays (11/11/39 & 12/2/39) and were often joined by Dave Ward (11/20/39), Ronnie Rencurrel and Dick Ladd. We will continue to do this in his memory.

Paul will forever be a SHS'58 star Don Allan

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