David E. Johnson

David E. Johnson 77, died peacefully in his home after a long, hard battle with multiple illnesses. He was born a smaller than average baby on June 25, 1940 in Rockford, IL to Ethel (Anderson) Johnson and Irving Johnson. His mother used to joke that she could count the ribs on his front and back. His small stature as a child was little indication of the man he would become. Dave graduated from East High School in 1958 and proudly served on his high school reunion committee for several decades. He’s an alumni of the bars surrounding the campus of North Park College in Chicago where he received his bachelor’s degree in History. From there he attended the University of Chicago for graduate school for a semester, but left after run in with the Russian language curriculum. He transferred to the University of Illinois where he perfected life as a poor graduate student and started his grilling skills by cooking small steak sandwiches at Gridiron. At the University of Illinois he received his master’s degree in Far Eastern History and also met and started dating Judy Pilot. He liked to brag that he rescued her from her sheltered upbringing on the south side of Chicago. They married on September 18, 1965.

“Big Dave” as he was known, began his professional career as a teacher at Stiles School working with children from some of the poorest families in the community. In the classroom he used creative methods to engage his students. While his principal told Judy that Dave was the best teacher he’d ever seen, Dave always joked that since he couldn’t teach, they made him a principal. He served as principal at Marsh, Wilson Middle School and Jefferson High School. He received a Those Who Excel Administrator of the Year award in 1991. He was also awarded the Illinois Education Association Human & Civil Rights Award. He retired in 1994 after more than 30 years in public education.

He was an active community member and served on the Board of Directors for Rosecrance Healthcare System and Rockford Area Illini Club, the H.O.W. organization committee and Inner Group. He also loved participating in the Rockford Area Literacy Council’s 100 Men Who Cook. Dave was a 25-year friend of Bill W. and dedicated countless hours to speaking and leading recovery groups. He also was a sponsor to many friends throughout the years.

In retirement, he loved to plan vacations. Dave and Judy visited Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Panama and spent winters in Florida and Arizona. He was an avid player of cribbage and bridge and a die-hard Bears and Cubs fan and lived to see his Cubs win the World Series. He also enjoyed buying donuts for his grandkids and sitting down with them to watch SpongeBob SquarePants.

Big Dave could be intimidating and was never afraid to speak his mind using very colorful vocabulary. In his day, he was the life of the party. He had high expectations of those around him and also for himself. He was a workaholic, an alcoholic, and a hector-director with a wicked sense of humor. At the core of Big Dave, however, was an equally large heart. A heart for helping students in poverty, kids who’d gotten mixed up in gangs, and also homeless alcoholics.

He is survived by his wife, Judy (Pilot); daughters, Lauren (Todd) Mingus, Sharsten Johnson; son, Merrick (Megan) Johnson; sister, Kay (Tom) Brown; grandchildren, William, Gavin and Charlie Mingus, Kullen Cravens, Hayden and Jordan Johnson; brother-in-law, Tom (Bev) Pilot; nieces, Dana Hughes, Erin Kiefer, Tammy (Dan) Vahala, Pam (Dave) Jakubik; and nephews Tom (Kim) Pilot, Steve (Laurel) Pilot and Nicholas Brown; many grandnieces and grandnephews and several dear friends. Predeceased by his parents and brother, Dennis Johnson.

Visitation service will be held on Friday, July 28 from 5-8 pm at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 29 at 11 am at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4848 Turner St. In lieu of flowers; with a visitation from 10:00 am until time of service. The family asks for memorial tributes to be sent to the Rosecrance Foundation for youth programs. Share condolences online at www.fitzgeraldfh.com