Paul Joseph Johnson

Paul J. Johnson, 83 of Danvers/ Bourne, MA died Tuesday January 9, 2024 after a long battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia / Frontal Temporal Dementia.

Born in Brockton, Massachusetts he was the son of the late Charles Johnson and the late Helen (Blee) Johnson. He attended St. Patrick’s School in Brockton, MA, followed by Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, MA. He graduated with the class of 1959. His father died when he was 11 and he and his older brother, Robert went to work at Liberty Bakery in Brockton at a young age. He learned many of life’s lessons and stayed out of trouble while helping to deliver bread throughout the South Shore. He was the youngest of 5, three doting older sisters Eileen, Helen and Mary and his best friend, older brother Robert. His brothers-in-law Raymond, Harold and Artie (Brownie) were father figures while he was still young and later best friends.

He later went to the Boston Technical College and studied electrical engineering and received his Associates Degree. This led him to start his job at MIT Lincoln Laboratory as an Electronic Technician in 1962. He retired from MIT Lincoln Lab in 2000. He was a member of the Research and Development and Technical Employees Union and former Executive Board Member. He made lifelong friendships through his time at Lincoln Laboratory.

He met his wife of 52 years, the late Mary “Marie” (O’Connor) Johnson at an Irish Dance at City Ballroom in Boston. From that point on, they were together and enjoyed many Irish dances with friends and family. He and Marie belonged to the North Shore Irish Association where they continued to dance with close friends, The Finnegans, The Richards and The Driscolls.

He and Marie retired in Cape Cod at Aptucxet Village in Bourne where they lived for 18 years and enjoyed their community of friends.

He enjoyed watching Boston sports teams, most notably the Red Sox. He enjoyed travelling to California to visit his son Patrick and family and Ireland, to visit Marie’s large Irish family. Some of his fondest memories included living with his sister Helen and riding with his brother-in-law Harold who was a summer cop in the 60’s in Hyannisport, He also enjoyed retelling stories of his fun days and nights with lifelong high school friends John Finnegan and Marty Devine. He loved visiting his sister Eileen and brother-in-law Ray on Martha’s Vineyard, walking the canal with his sister Mary and brother-in-law Brownie in Bourne, driving a car out to his son Patrick in Chicago with his brother Robert and watching a Chicago Cubs game from Pat’s rooftop apartment at Wrigley Field and playing catch with his daughter Sheila in the backyard at Watson Pkwy in Danvers, MA where they lived for 20 years.

He adored his three grandchildren Kaitlyn, Tom and Bridie. He loved every minute he got to spend with them and enjoyed taking them to all his favorite places on the Cape.

Surviving are his son Patrick Johnson from Los Gatos, CA, daughter Sheila Butler and son-in-law Bill Butler of Melrose, MA, grandchildren Kaitlyn Johnson, 19 from Santa Cruz, CA, grandson Tom Butler, 17 and Bridie Butler, 15 from Melrose, MA, three grand dogs, Shadow, Cody and Maddie as well as many nieces and nephews all of whom he kept in touch with and adored.

He is preceded in death by sisters, Eileen (Johnson) Whiting, Helen (Johnson) Brooks and Mary (Johnson) Brown and brother, Robert Johnson.

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to attend Paul’s funeral which will be held from O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) DANVERS on Monday, January 15th at 9 A.M. followed by his funeral Mass at St. Richard Parish, 90 Forest St., Danvers at 10 A.M. Burial in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers with a luncheon to follow at The Wardhurst Restaurant 31 Lynnfield St, Peabody, MA 01960. Visiting hours on Sunday, January 14th from 3 to 5 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations in Paul’s memory may be made to Hilarity for Charity, a national non-profit organization on a mission to care for families of Alzheimer’s and Rare Dementias and be a leader in brain health research. Donate at wearehfc.org. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.