June 8, 2017

The Choir honors Richard Johnson on the day of his funeral 6/16/17
*Photo by Carolyn Maxwell

I recently attended the funeral (Homegoing Service) for the beloved retired Perth Amboy High School Music Teacher Richard Johnson. It was the kind of service that Richard would have loved. There were of course, tears mixed in with humor and laughter. The music was joyous and uplifting which reflected Mr. Johnson’s spirit. Mr. Johnson wanted to have at least 40 years of teaching, but he completed 39 years when he was forced to take an early retirement from the teaching that he so loved because of ill health.

In the program, it stated that Richard Johnson’s students under his direction were so talented that they performed at Carnegie Hall.

Anita Dowd, who was a very close colleague of Richard Johnson spoke very poignantly on how much she relied on his hearing when she was casting roles in high school plays. If he felt a student didn’t quite  fit in to specific role, he would quietly whisper in her ear, “Oh, no.”

As she was speaking about Mr. Johnson, I had the feeling that he was a better music teacher on his worst day than other choir directors would be on their best day.

After Ms. Dowd spoke, Ray Geneske (the mischievous kid in class) came up to speak. There was supposed to be a 3 minute limit per speaker, but apparently Mr. Geneske figured it didn’t apply to him. As the clock was ticking past the 3 minute mark, the next speaker (Michael Savoia) started to drift toward Geneske’s side. Geneske continued talking and waved Savoia off, saying that he was going to talk more about Richard and that he could go on for 3 hours about what a great man Mr. Johnson was. Geneske and Johnson worked together in the AFT and it was Johnson who made sure the members were protected.

Richard Johnson with the Perth Amboy High School Choir
*File Photo by Carolyn Maxwell taken 5/9/08

He was also a great teacher to the AFT successors which helped them grow the membership to more than double.

Geneske wanted everyone to know that he considered Johnson a brother. When Michael Savoia came up to speak, he said that Mr. Geneske must of have leaned over when they were sitting in the audience, “Geneske must of looked at my notes, because a lot of what I was going to say, Geneske said. I came to know Johnson a few years before Johnson retired and I hadn’t spoken to him for a few years. I was able to speak to him before he passed.”

When Johnson’s family came on stage, Johnson’s wife, Gerri made reference to Geneske’s long speech. This brought a chuckle throughout the crowd. She talked about how people would ask her how she felt when she and her husband were out together, because he was so popular and people would be drawn to him and she would be referred to: “Oh, and this is Gerri.”

She mentioned, “I didn’t mind at all, because I was with a celebrity.”

She also told about the day when she got the call that Richard didn’t have much longer to live and the way that he transitioned. “He started to wave his arms in the air as if he were directing a choir and then he passed.”

As a tribute to her husband,  Gerri started to wave her hands in the air saying, “This is for Richard.”

When Bishop Hilliard came up to speak, he also referenced Geneske and his long speech. He mentioned that Gerri and Richard met and then fell in love when they were both were attending 6:30 a.m. service. They insisted that was the time they wanted to be married. Bishop Hilliard told them:m “They better be there because I’ll be here to perform the ceremony.”

I think Richard Johnson would have it no other way. He would want people to remember him with a smile, laughter and a song in their hearts.

There is a saying, “This is music to my ears.” Everyone who spoke was in essence a singer because of the sincerity and what was in their heart was not only music to the ears of those in attendance, but what Richard Johnson heard in heaven.

After the service, the funeral procession proceeded to Sadowski Parkway and the last stop was at Perth Amboy High School where the “Find Your Voice” Choir paid a musical tribute and then the procession proceeded to Alpine Cemetery. It was a fitting tribute from the beginning to the end for a man who was a true gentleman, musician, mentor and a friend, not only to the students, colleagues, but those who knew him just as a great human being. C.M.

Richard Johnson (L) with his Wife, Gerri (R)
*File Photo by Carolyn Maxwell taken 2/28/09