27/01/2025
The entire SMAD community is mourning the loss of Dr. George Johnson, who died at his home on Jan. 24 after a 14-year battle with cancer. He was 77.
Many SMAD alumni knew Dr. Johnson from SMAD 101, which he taught with Dr. Roger Soenksen for 19 years — most of them in Anthony-Seeger Auditorium. Dr. Johnson was a core part of SMAD’s DNA in other ways. In fact, he helped found the School in the 1990s and served as SMAD’s first director.
Dr. Johnson taught at JMU for more than three decades until retiring in 2019, which The Breeze covered at the time. Along the way, he taught a host of classes: including, journalism and telecom production classes, mass communication law, photojournalism, and foundation of visual communication courses. He first came to JMU in 1984, left for a few years to teach at the University of Tennessee, then returned to JMU in 1988.
There will be a public celebration of George Johnson’s life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in Anthony-Seeger Auditorium. Please join the SMAD and Harrisonburg communities in honoring Dr. Johnson and his legacy.
In addition, the Johnson family has set up a scholarship in his name, so donations may be made to that scholarship fund in lieu of flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. George C. Johnson Memorial Fund, c/o the JMU Foundation, MSC 3603, 1031 Harrison Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.
(Photo by Heather Eckstine for The Breeze in 2019: https://www.breezejmu.org/news/smad-professor-to-retire-after-31-years-at-jmu/article_ec66c3ae-66e3-11e9-90b4-279572f0bbd3.html )
