Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson, age 70 of Haskell, passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Gary was born to Earl and Joan Johnson in Paterson, NJ where he graduated from Kennedy High School.  He also had a sister Joan Hoppe who passed away in 2021. 

Gary was very involved in sports, he loved cheering on his favorite teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Dodgers.  He enjoyed basketball most of all, but he would watch just about anything. This would lead him to his life’s calling of becoming a coach for the future generations of players over at the Wayne Boys and Girls Club.  There he led countless basketball teams teaching them the fundamentals of the game he was most passionate about.   

In addition to his devotion to helping kids as a local coach, Gary also worked as a crossing guard in Wayne ensuring their safety.  He loved his job and was well known for his friendly and social demeanor while helping the community stay safe.  Even at 70, Gary still worked various other part time jobs which included Stop & Shop, Lifetouch and United Pool Services.  

Grace and Gary met one fateful day at a previous job, where Gary decided to take a chance and ask her to the movies.  They saw his favorite movie at the time, Ghost.  The two instantly hit it off, finding comfort in one another.  Soon after, they were married in the Poconos and have been together for over 30 years.  They initially raised their children in Midland Park.  Later moving to Passaic County where they bought a home and added family pets which Gary enjoyed. 

Beyond sports, Gary also loved watching game shows.  The Price is Right (only with Bob Barker as the host) was his favorite along with Jeopardy. He also enjoyed movies that revolved around space like Apollo 13, Lost in Space, and Star Trek.  His not so guilty pleasure was watching General Hospital (a soap opera) with his wife.  Gary also enjoyed photography, bowling, and playing pool with his best friend John of 58 years.

Gary is survived by his wife Grace Johnson, his son Keith Johnson and granddaughter Savannah, his stepchildren Joe Ravese and Jessica Tuvé along with her husband Jeremy, and his granddaughter Avarie.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a memorial contribution in Gary’s name, please consider donating to the Wayne Boys and Girls Club.