William Johnson, Sr.

William Johnson, Sr., beloved husband, loving father, son, brother, uncle, mentor, and friend extraordinaire entered eternal life on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at his home in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. William was born on March 6, 1946, in Springfield, MA to the late John B. Johnson and Robertha Humber Johnson.

  Known for his passionate love of God, family, and friends, William lived life with gusto.  His heart was huge; his kindness, generosity and compassion knew no bounds. In spite of his many accomplishments William was a humble man.  He loved to laugh and joke and had a special fondness for children.  William was blessed with an endless curiosity, and love of science, the arts, and travel.  He had great love and respect for people of the Ahtahkakoop Cree First Nation located in Shell Lake, in North Central Saskatchewan, Canada, to whom he gave many years of devoted service.

  William attended elementary, junior high, and high school in Springfield, MA.  He graduated from Putnam Vocational Technical High School with a diploma in Electronics; matriculated to Springfield Technical Institute (STI) aka Springfield Technical Community College, and graduated with an Associate’s degree in Applied Science with a major in Electronic Technology.  He was proud of helping to design the first STI class ring.

  William continued his education at Western New England University (WNEC) and the University of Connecticut.  He graduated from WNEC with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, minoring in Physics and Mathematics.  William completed graduate level studies in business and industrial engineering at the University of Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut.  Throughout his professional career there was always the quest to learn more.  He attended seminars in Motor Controls, Infrared Technologies, Production Control, and Business Management, ISO 9000 Quality Management and Engineering Management, and Project Management represent just a slice of his continued education.

  William held many titles during the course of his professional career.  At Kollmorgen Corporation in Northampton, MA, his titles included Electrical Engineer, Senior Electrical Engineer, Senior Project Engineer, Systems Engineer, Chief Systems Engineer, Director of Programs, International Director of Business Development, and Director of International Marketing.

  He was Manager of Business Development MicroFLIR (Infrared Camera), Northrop Grumman Corporation, in Orlando, FL; Director of Programs, Earth Systems Science / Physics Dept., Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA, and Executive V.P. of Engineering and Business Development, Datametrics Corporation in Orlando, FL.

  William conducted briefings at the U.S. Pentagon, the Naval Weapons Warfare Center, the Redstone Arsenal, and briefed U.S. and foreign Generals and Admirals.  He also testified at the U.S. Congress to a Committee of the National Science Foundation on the importance of science education in public schools.

  William’s work took him to many countries: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Egypt, England, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia. Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Republics of China & Korea, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, and Wales.

  He was also an entrepreneur--President & CEO of Resource Placement & Development, in Springfield, MA.  For many years he consulted as a Management Consultant for Business Development in the U.S. and Canada.

  William loved Springfield and worked hard to impact it positively.  He was on the Board of Directors of the Housing Allowance Program, Founder & Director of Community Involvement Education & Career Advisors; on the Board of Directors, Springfield Science Museum; Chairman of the Steering Committee, Springfield Science Museum R.E. Phelon African Hall; and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the Springfield Library and Museums Association.

  William’s father, John B. Johnson and mother, Robertha Humber Johnson of Springfield preceded him in death, as did his sister, Mildred Johnson Parrish, and brothers, John Johnson of Wilbraham, MA, and Henry Johnson of Lumpkin, GA.  William will be profoundly missed by all who survive him including his wife, Yvonne Walker Johnson of Port St Lucie, FL; step-son, Tyrone O. Sullivan, his spouse, Sarah A. Slattery, and granddaughter, Evelyn A. Sullivan of Fairfield, CT.  Also grieving William’s passing are his son, William Johnson Jr, his spouse, Chaute Akira Johnson, and grandson, Nathaniel Linden of Oviedo, FL.  He is also survived by his daughter, Rachel Johnson Williams, her spouse, Gary, and three grandchildren--Breanna, Gary II, and Grayson Wiliams, and great-granddaughter, Ah’lani Hall all of Raleigh, NC.  In addition, he is survived by his sister, Margaret Johnson Coward and her spouse, James of Spring, Texas; sister-in-law, Dolores Johnson, of Wilbraham, MA.  He leaves behind nephews and nieces, John Parrish and his spouse, Carol of Houston, TX; Mark Parrish of Winston Salem, NC; John Johnson III of Wilbraham, MA; Stephanie Johnson of Chicago, IL, and Tonya Johnson of Wilbraham, MA.  His adopted brother, Alex Ahenakew and many others of the Ahtahkakoop Cree First Nation in Shell Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, also mourn William’s passing.

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