Former Annapolis Mayor, Dean Johnson, passed away yesterday from a complication of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Johnson was diagnosed with the disease in 1999.
He was a one term mayor (1997-2001) and served as an Alderman for Ward 2 for eight years prior to that.
Services are scheduled at the First Presbyterian Church at 171 Duke of Gloucester St. will host a memorial service at 2 p.m. Monday.
For more detail on Johnson’s life, and political influence in Annapolis, please see the article in today’s Capital.
The following statement was issued by City Hall:
The City offers its condolences to the family of Dean L. Johnson who served Annapolis citizens as both alderman and mayor.
Mr. Johnson passed away at the Anne Arundel Medical Center on Wednesday, November 30 after a long battle with cancer.
Dean Johnson was elected mayor of Annapolis in 1997 after serving two terms as alderman in Ward 2. He was a retired economist for the U.S. Department of Transportation and helped run various local organizations. He was active in Rotary, his church, the Colonial Players and Habitat for Humanity. He also continued to serve the City after leaving office, most recently as Chairman of the Annapolis Transportation Board.
“Dean was a natural optimist who was always quick to share a smile or a friendly word,” Mayor Cohen said. “A genuinely considerate and humble man, Dean loved our community and loved participating in its civic life. His service as Mayor and Alderman was just one of many ways in which he gave so generously of his time and energies for the betterment of our community. My deepest sympathies go out to Sally, their children and extended family. Our town shares your loss and mourns with you.”
A memorial service is planned for 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 5, at the First Presbyterian Church on Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis.
Mayor Cohen has directed that all City flags are to be lowered to half-staff until Mr. Johnson is laid to rest Monday afternoon.
