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Michael Johnson

Michael Robert Johnson of Old Saybrook, passed away on September 19, 2024. He was devoted to his wife, Nadine Johnson, throughout their 67 year marriage, and to their seven children.

Mike was born on his family’s farm in Cheektowaga, New York on December 23, 1932, the eldest son of seven children, all of them born and raised on the farm purchased by their immigrant grandparents who journeyed to America from Galicia, a province of Austria-Hungary, through Ellis Island.

After high school, Mike enlisted in the United States Air Force and departed for basic training to Tillamook, Oregon, before being stationed in Europe and North Africa during the Korean War. Mike served four years with honor as a flight crew chief, as captain of the baseball team, and as an ambassador of goodwill. His years serving in the Air Force sparked Mike’s sense for adventure and a lifelong spirit of inquiry.

Upon returning home from the service, Mike headed to Ft. Wayne, Indiana to study electrical engineering at Indiana Technical College. He met the love of his life, Nadine, at a dance at the local YWCA. After falling for Nadine at the dance, he asked her to attend his fraternity ball, where he was the president of his fraternity and its most entertaining public speaker. Mike and Nadine married in 1957.

Mike’s professional career began with Magnavox in Ft. Wayne, where he managed the production of color televisions as well as military radar equipment. An interesting adventure came his way when he was offered a challenging career opportunity to open and manage an electronics manufacturing operation in Nogales, Mexico. Mike and Nadine packed up their family and hit the road. They traveled in two station wagons to Arizona and settled for a few years in a remote border town surrounded by the Sonoran Desert mountains. Opportunities soon led Mike to relocate the family to New England, settling in Madison, where Mike was vice president of manufacturing for several companies in the northeast. Mike enjoyed living along the Connecticut shoreline for almost 50 years, in Madison and Old Saybrook.

Mike was a bibliophile, accomplished public speaker, photographer, gardener, and birdwatcher. He could build anything and fix everything. He remained a devoted New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers fan. He was a member of the Madison post of the American Legion and served as a Veterans of Foreign Wars honor guard. Mike enjoyed sharing his good nature, story-telling skills, and ever-present sense of humor with family and friends, especially over a cup of coffee and home-baked treats. He was grateful for the warmth of his friends and neighbors over the years and Old Saybrook’s dedicated first responders, all of whom cheerfully supported him during his elder years.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Nadine; and their children, Michael Matthew, Angela, Theresa and husband, Eric, Jennifer and husband, Beau, Linda, Robert, and Amy and husband Richard. He will be missed by his brother Tom, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved grandchildren, Wyatt, Tamsen, Cassidy, Drew, James, Marissa, Charlotte, and Tyler. Mike was predeceased by his parents, Michael and Victoria (Mierta) Johnson; sisters, Marion and Dorothy; brothers, Raymond, Matthew, and Paul; an infant son, Anthony; three grandchildren, Ian, David, and Cameron; and a son-in-law, Aureleo.

Mike felt the song “My Way” illustrated his full life well. A close friend once said: “Mike is the kind of person you would want with you in a foxhole, a loyal friend and real good man.” In memory of Mike, share time with family and friends, read a good book, and enjoy the great outdoors. Burial will be private. Donations in Mike’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or The American Cancer Society. To view Mike’s obituary and leave condolences please visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/old-saybrook-ct/michael-johnson-11997592