The Memorial Wall

John Samuel Johnston, Jr., also known as Sam, Poppa or Judge, surrounded by family, died December 10th from complications of Parkinson's disease which he battled for over 22 years. He was predeceased by his parents, John Samuel Johnston and Ruth Richards Johnston, and a son, Adam Wood Johnston (in 1977). He was married to the love of his life, Elizabeth Whitaker Thomasson Johnston, for over 54 glorious years.

He was a judge in the 24th circuit for over 31 years. He was 30 years old when first appointed to General District Court in 1977, the youngest district judge at that time in Virginia. Four years later he was elevated to circuit court and, at 34, was the youngest circuit judge in Virginia.

He was born November 29, 1946 in Anniston, Alabama and was raised in Weaver, Alabama. He received his education in the Alabama school system and was a graduate of the University of Alabama in 1968, where he was a member of Chi Phi social fraternity. He was a diehard fan of Alabama football and had many wonderful years watching the TIDE ROLL.

After the University of Alabama, he took his law degree at The University of Virginia, graduating in 1972. He was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and was elected to the law school council as a third-year student. After graduation, he began a one-year judicial clerkship in Birmingham with chief federal Judge Frank McFadden of the northern district of Alabama. After his clerkship, he returned to Lynchburg and began practicing law with Kizer, Phillips & Petty where he worked for 3 ½ years before being named judge.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, Margaret Richards Johnston Shoemaker (Jason); son, Whitaker Rustel Johnston (Abbey); daughter, Mollie Gleason Johnston Hollingsworth (Mark); daughter, Annie Gordon Johnston Vordermark (Matt); and bonus daughter, Elizabeth Page Pettyjohn Birney. He also is survived by grandchildren, Caroline Elizabeth Shoemaker, Thomas Adam Shoemaker, Samuel Robert Johnston, Scarlett Richards Johnston, Margaret Howard Vordermark, Frank Rustel Vordermark, and Kendall Mae Ramsay Hollingsworth.

Sam was an engaging, garrulous person who was at ease with everyone. He became friends with several individuals whom he had previously sentenced to the penitentiary and occasionally had lunch with them. He was a true sesquipedalian and a bibliophile - completing at least two crossword puzzles each day and attempting to add a new word to his vocabulary every day as well.

Sam was blessed with a keen intellect and a wonderful sense of humor – always looking forward to telling or hearing a good joke, whether told by him or someone else; he must have had at least 1000 jokes stored in his brain! It was not unusual for him to introduce Liz as his "first wife" or "current wife" or the "incumbent" wife all the while knowing how important she was to him.

Having loved several dogs throughout his life, his dog Dixie – a yellow lab – was his favorite. She hunted doves with him for many years. Sam loved the outdoors, especially dove shooting and he regularly would arrange dove hunts on farmland in Campbell and many other surrounding counties. He had a group of friends who would go with him and his son on many Saturdays and loved the camaraderie, especially with his son and daughter-in-law and daughter and son-in-law and his hunting buddies too numerous to name. He successfully participated in dove hunts as recently as September of this year. Sam was well known for his wild game dinners at the end of each hunting season which featured exotic meats such as moose, yak, cobra, mountain lion, bear, ostrich, emu and alligator. He belonged to 4 chitterling clubs: Blue Ridge; Central Virginia; Seminole Trail; and Tobacco Row.

Sam was an avid gardener, planting as many as 30 tomato plants along with rows of corn, green beans, squash, cucumbers, eggplant and okra (his favorite vegetable). He once grew an 8 lb. 3 oz. sweet potato. One year he won a ribbon at the Campbell County Food Fair for his Zucchini Relish. Sam spent many long and happy hours in the garden and shared his harvest with friends, neighbors, and family.

Sam also loved to teach. After graduating from Alabama he taught at the junior high in Scottsville, high school at Rock Hill Academy in Charlottesville and at Central Va. Community College and Averett College. He regularly went to the local schools to speak to government classes and welcomed high school students to attend trials of interest.

Having served for 31 years, Sam had special insight to the problems society brought to him. He was known as a fast, fair, and patient judge with a great sense of humor and acquitted himself thusly throughout his tenure. He served on Governor Robb's task force to combat drunk driving and Governor Wilder's commission for parole and sentencing reform and was a charter member of the Virginia Sentencing Commission.

He was a popular representative of the judiciary and was frequently asked to speak or present to various civic organizations and bar groups over the years. Among them were the Va. Bar Assn (VBA), the Va. State Bar (VSB), the Va. Assn of Defense Attorneys (VADA) and the Va. Trial Lawyers Assn (VTLA). He led the VTLA judges panel at its annual convention for 16 consecutive years and was awarded the VTLA Distinguished Service Award in 2007. Sam was also a guest presenter, lecturer, and instructor to groups and bar associations across the country. During his career and travels he became friends with noted authors Mickey Spillane (creator of Mike Hammer) and Lewis Grizzard (noted Southern humorist), and Bobby Lee Cook (the Georgia attorney who inspired the Matlock series).

He is the author of "Why Judges Wear Robes" and co-author of "The Art and Science of Mastering the Jury Trial" with Irv Cantor. He was named a Leader in the Law in 2011 and in 2016 received the Champion of Justice Award from the Va. chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocacy given to a judge "for his service to the community and for exemplary contributions to the people of Va." For many years Sam invited jurors to return to court for a debriefing and question and answer session. He often told the jurors he did not want to treat them like mushrooms, i.e. "keep them in the dark and feed them horse manure". Sam was one of the founding members of Juridical Solutions, a mediation group of retired judges across the state. Sam was honored to sit as a judge in Campbell County and considered Rustburg to be a second home. One of his landmark accomplishments was the construction of the new courthouse there to serve those who needed to be heard or were seeking justice.

Sam loved going to Litchfield Beach, S.C. with his family for over 40 consecutive years. But the thing he loved most was being with his family – Liz, Margo, Whit, Mollie Gleason and Annie Gordon; his sons-and-daughter-in-law; and his 7 grandchildren. Poppa was a hands-on father and never missed a baseball, softball, or soccer game in which one or more of his children participated. He also made it to every piano and dance recital to support his children in their activities.

The family truly appreciates each and every one who cared about him and helped him when Parkinson's was attacking his ability to care for himself. The family is especially grateful to faithful friend Joe Malott, the local Parkinson's Disease Support Group, Rock Steady Boxing, Centra Hospice, and to Candy, Erica, Peggy and Towanda.
 

French ex Formula One driver Patrick Tambay, who won two Grand Prix for Ferrari in the 1980s, has died after a long illness at the age of 73, his family announced on Sunday.

Tambay, who had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease, had stints with the Theodore, McLaren and Renault teams.

But it was during his time with Ferrari that he notched up his two career wins.

The first came at Hockenheim in 1982, followed up by a win on the iconic Italian constructor's home turf at Imola the following season.

Tragedy was behind his arrival at Ferrari.

He replaced Gilles Villeneuve after his friend's fatal accident in the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix -- followed by a career-ending accident a few weeks later for Ferrari's other driver and at the time championship leader Didier Pironi in the practice session for the German Grand Prix.

Tambay dedicated his win at Hockenheim -- which was a a perfectly-time morale booster for the team's fans -- to Villeneuve, Pironi and Enzo Ferrari, the latter for placing his confidence in him.

Tambay was godfather to Villeneuve's son, Jacques, who won the 1997 world title.

The Paris-born Tambay made his F1 debut aged 28 in the 1977 British Grand Prix for the Hong Kong-based Theodore team.

He then had two luckless seasons with McLaren, took a sabbatical, returning to the circuit in 1981 first with Theodore and finishing that season with Ligier.

After Ferrari he moved to Renault, managing only three podiums in 1984-85, and two points with Lola-Haas in his final 1986 season.

He started in 123 Grand Prix and retired with five pole positions to his name and a highest world championship placing of fourth in 1983.

Switching his focus from F1 to endurance motorsport he came in third twice in the Dakar Rally in 1988 and 1989.

A handsome, dashing and urbane figure known as a 'gentleman driver', he also competed several times in the Le Mans 24-hour race with a best finish of fourth in 1989 driving a Jaguar.

In his pre-F1 days Tambay achieved success on the now defunct American Can-Am sports car series, notching up a dozen wins and the titles in 1977-78.

He retained his links with F1 post-retirement as a television commentator and pursued a successful career in local politics for the conservative Republicans party.

Our beloved friend, John Maurer, passed away at Hospice House (IU Bloomington Hospital) after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. His death was a peaceful one, held in support by his community, listening to their words of love.

John was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to John and Agnes (Valko) Maurer. He got his BA from the University of Delaware. But the education that would profoundly affect his life (and really so many of our lives) emerged from his work with great figures of the 1970s and 1980s: Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais, and Sam Keen. John became a Rolfer and a Feldenkrais practitioner. His intellectual curiosity and his dedication to exploring human potential allowed him to put his own stamp on the work he drew from his own teachers and to generously mentor other practitioners.

John was intuitive, gifted, and a natural leader. His thriving practice fundamentally changed the lives of hundreds, allowing, for example, musicians and athletes to overcome physical challenges that threatened their hopes for the future. He developed a series of workshops inviting people to do their own explorations with his guidance. Together, those of us who attended these dynamic sessions walked along edges of consciousness and discovered the impact of our families hidden in our bodies. Participants often found these workshops life-changing experiences. John also mentored other practitioners, always willing to share what he knew.

John loved sports, golfing with much enthusiasm and quite a bit of skill. John had a golf scholarship to college and played on the team for a short time until he became aware of leadership and politics, running and winning several campus offices. He played in many local golf tournaments and traveled to beautiful golf courses around the country. He was even very good at persuading friends to occasionally caddy for him. He really enjoyed watching all sports but life was good when the Master’s or other golf majors were on TV, or when his golf hero Tiger Woods was playing anywhere. He loved IU Basketball and rarely missed a Sunday Colts game, even getting to attend several Super Bowls.

Like most of us, John craved community and connection. What made him unique was his willingness to be intentional in creating community, gathering people together to talk, move, and go on shared journeys of self-exploration. Together, these groups were launching pads for growth and healing. But his dedication to community was more powerful than that - his own journey with Parkinson’s has been a gift to many others. He was tireless in his efforts to find ways to live with a devastating disease, searching out any way to slow its progression and improve the quality of his life. He formed a support group (that was so much more than that). And having enjoyed the mentorship of some of the greats, he gave back, willingly mentoring others and sharing his knowledge.

John is survived by a vibrant and wide-spread community whose lives were shaped by his dedication to helping others. Jessica Mott truly speaks for so many of us when she says, “Hewas a true trailblazer and such a unique soul. His love was a game changer.” We are glad you are at peace, John, and we will miss you every day.

Hervey Eugene Clay, 79, passed away peacefully November 28, 2022, at a Howland nursing home, after a courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was born March 28, 1943, in Lincoln, the son of Wilber and Letitia (Smith) Clay.

Hervey was a 1961 graduate of Mattanawcook Academy. He was also a graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and Bentley College in Boston. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the Vietnam war. Hervey owned and operated Clay Funeral Home in Lincoln for many years. He helped countless families through their worst times and became known far and wide for his compassion and caring nature. He was a Past-President of the Maine Funeral Directors Association and served on the Maine State Board of Funeral Service.

He was an active and highly respected member of Lincoln Fire Department, serving as the fire company president for many years, retiring as Deputy Chief in 2015 due to health issues. He was also an active member of several local organizations over the years, including Lion's Club, Jaycees, Horeb Lodge #93 AF & AM and Carl E. Burrill American Legion Post 77, Lincoln. He also served on the Board of Directors at Penobscot Valley Hospital and Lincoln Maine Federal Credit Union for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Jane (Lindsay) Edgecomb-Clay, of Lincoln; four children, Vicki Clay and her significant other, Benjamin Meiklejohn, Stephen Clay, Katie Clay and her significant other, Robert Tomilson, and Samuel Clay and his wife, Rebecca; seven grandchildren, Brianne Libby, Emily McCormick-Libby and her wife, Sara, Adam Libby, Brandon Wardwell, Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Ariel Clay; two-great-granddaughters, Piper and Poppy McCormick-Libby; one sister, Kathleen Clifford and her husband, Dale; several cousins with whom he shared a very special bond; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, Sherry (Thurlow) Clay and her parents, Willmont and Jean (Harris) Thurlow.

July 9, 1955 - November 27, 2022, UCLA Professor Emerita Jeanne Arnold of Sherman Oaks.

Born in Cleveland OH, daughter of Lawrence and Marybelle Arnold, Jeanne passed away on November 27 at the age of 67. Dr. Arnold is survived by her partner Delia De Sasia, her brother Richard Arnold (Marilyn), niece Christine Mckee (Cary), nephew Robert Arnold (Melissa), nephew Daniel
Arnold (Jennifer), aunts, cousins and grandnieces and nephews.

Dr. Arnold did her undergraduate work at University of Michigan, graduate work at UC Santa Barbara and began her professorial career at UCLA in the late 1980's.

A Cloud Never Dies: 

"When conditions are sufficient, a cloud transforms into rain, snow, or hail. The cloud has never been born and it will never die. This insight of signlessness and interbeing helps us recognize that all lives continue in different forms. Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, everything is in transformation. There is no real death because there is always a continuation." – Thich Nhat Hanh 

ACKIN DONALD 89, of Philadelphia, PA, died on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Donald was a professor of English at Temple University. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, two daughters, Rebecca Hoenig (Larry Hoenig) and Ethel (Dan Spirer); grandson, Max Hoenig; and two nephews, Will and Gregg Rackin. A Memorial Service will be planned for a later date. www.laurelhillphl.com

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer on Nov. 27, 2022.

Lesley Elliott’s husband of 50 years has paid tribute to the domestic violence campaigner, who has died following an “incredibly difficult” battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

The 76-year-old, who was the mother of Sophie Elliot, died at Ross Home in Dunedin on Sunday.

Following the brutal murder of Sophie by her former boyfriend Clayton Weatherston in 2008, Lesley set up the Sophie Elliott Foundation and toured New Zealand teaching young people about safe and healthy relationships and the warning signs of abuse.

Gil ​Elliott paid tribute to his former wife of 50 years, who became a tireless campaigner after their daughter’s death.

That included talking to young women around the country about abusive relationships.

He will deliver a eulogy at Friday’s service and noted their two sons “had been robbed of the two women in our family”.

Her declining health over the past two years had been “incredibly difficult” for the family, he said.

Lesley Elliott co-authored a best-selling book about her daughter’s death, Sophie's Legacy, with Bill O’Brien. At least eight women credited it as being the catalyst for them leaving their violent partners.

O’Brien, a Dunedin-based author, said he approached Elliott about writing the book “to give her a voice” after the high-profile court trial.

“There were days when I would sit down at her home to do an interview, and she would take out a note that Sophie had written and just lose it ... So we would go for a walk on the beach and have another go the next day.”

The book, and the Loves-Me-Not programme designed to prevent abusive behaviour in relationships, resulted in the pair receiving hundreds of positive responses from people who had been in unhealthy relationships.

“I firmly believe if Sophie had a programme like Loves-Me-Not in her final years at school she would have known when things went wrong in her relationship,” Elliott told Stuff in 2014.

Her ill health led to the police taking over as lead agency for the programme and its resources. Loves-Me-Not continued to cater for year 12 students across New Zealand.

“An incredible lady, she used to say ‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about – I’m just a nurse and a mother,’” O’Brien said.

She would go on to receive the NEXT magazine Woman of the Year Award, which celebrates outstanding achievements of Aotearoa women, in 2011. She then took out the supreme award at the 2014 Women of Influence Awards.

In the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours, she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to the prevention of domestic violence.

An American journalist and speechwriter. Mike Gerson was an op-ed columnist for The Washington Post, a Policy Fellow with One Campaign, a visiting fellow with the Center for Public Justice, and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He served as President George W. Bush's chief speechwriter from 2001 until June 2006, as a senior policy advisor from 2000 through June 2006, and was a member of the White House Iraq Group.

Gerson helped write the inaugural address for the second inauguration of George W. Bush, which called for neo-conservative intervention and nation-building around the world to effect the spread of democracy to third world countries.

In 2018, Gerson and commentator Amy Holmes co-hosted In Principle, a politically conservative-oriented television talk show that ran for eight episodes on PBS.

Richard A. Lidinsky Jr., an attorney who headed the Federal Maritime Commission and was known as the “Watchdog of the Port,” died of complications from Parkinson’s disease Thursday at his Roland Park home. He was 76.

Born in Baltimore and raised in East Baltimore’s Czech community, he was the son of Richard A. Lidinsky Sr., executive secretary to Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. and later deputy comptroller of the City of Baltimore, and Angela Miller Lidinsky, a homemaker and volunteer.

“Public service was in the Lidinsky family DNA,” said former Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski. “Rick really helped to make the Port of Baltimore the powerhouse it is today.”

He attended St. Wenceslaus School and was a 1964 graduate of Calvert Hall College High School. He earned a degree at American University and was a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law. He served in the Coast Guard.

“He was a details person and a perfectionist. He was gregarious and cultivated lots of friendships,” said his sister, Mary Angela Mahoney. “He kept a card on the inside of his jacket of things that needed to be done that day. And by the end of the day, his to-do list was all crossed off.”

He met his future wife, Mary Duston “Dusty” Temmink, on a blind date at The Charles Theatre. They saw the film “Z.”

“I married him for his fine mind but stayed married because of his kind and forgiving heart,” she said.

Mr. Lidinsky was interested as a young man in maritime issues. He began his training as an aide to U.S. Rep. Edward A. Garmatz, who was chair of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee.

“Rick was a complete gentleman,” said William P. Doyle, director of the Maryland Port Administration. “And on the docks, the ILA longshoremen called him the ‘catfish.’ He was always looking out for the little guy, labor and truckers.”

Longtime friend Michael P. Cataneo said: “Rick had a certain maturity at a young age. He was always there for me. He had a dry sense of humor. If you didn’t know him, you could not know if he was serious, sarcastic or funny.”

Mr. Lidinsky later joined the General Counsel’s Office of the Federal Maritime Commission while Helen Delich Bentley was the chair.

He served as her legislative counsel and worked on and testified in support of the legislation that enabled the commission to bring the maritime industry into the age of containerization that was sweeping the globe and exploding trade, a family autobiographical sketch said.

In 1976, he returned to Baltimore and became a director at the Maryland Port Administration. He was legal counsel and director of tariffs and national port affairs.

An editorial in The News American called him “Watchdog of the Port.”

In 1982, while on a trade commission to China with other state officials and private Baltimore maritime companies, he drafted an agreement that the Chinese government shipping company COSCO signed. The agreement helped bring the company’s first ships to Baltimore.

Mr. Doyle, of the Maryland Port Administration, also said, “Rick represented the Port through both regional and national port organizations, and he was directly involved with helping to develop the Panama Canal Treaty Implementing Legislation and the Shipping Act of 1984.”

In 1986, he joined the international maritime conglomerate Sea Containers as its vice president for governmental affairs.

He had offices in Washington and London and negotiated contracts for the U.S. military to containerize its equipment. He was also a maritime adviser to NATO.

In 2008, President Barack Obama nominated Mr. Lidinsky to join the Federal Maritime Commission. He was named its chair in September 2009.

“During his chairmanship he had to confront the fact that over 90% of US maritime cargo was carried by foreign ships, and that a new global system of foreign alliances would dictate how US ports and consumers would be served,” said his family statement.

Mr. Lidinsky believed in forging ties with Chinese shipping firms. He addressed the COSCO 50th anniversary dinner in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People.

He attended the expansion of the Panama Canal Conference, which he had supported, in 2016. He left the commission that year.

An avid Orioles fan, he attended the team’s first game in April 1954 with his father. He also had a seat when the team played its last game at Memorial Stadium in 1991.

He attended the Colts-New York Giants NFL championship contest, widely called the “Greatest Game Ever Played,” in 1958 at Yankee Stadium.

He was a member of St. Ignatius Roman Catholic parish on North Calvert Street.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, the former Mary Duston Temmink, a retired English instructor to speakers of other languages; two sons, Richard A. Lidinsky III of Los Angeles and John Lidinsky of Parkville; a sister, Mary Angela Mahoney of Baltimore; brothers Mark Lidinsky of Kent Island and Frank Lidinsky of Towson; and two grandchildren.

It is with great sadness that the family of Leo Joseph Morrissette announces his passing on Monday November 14th, 2022, at the North Bay Regional Health Center after a prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He died peacefully surrounded by his family.

Born in North Bay Sept. 2, 1932, Leo is survived by his wife Rita (Falconi), his daughter Kim, his son David (Joan Rousseau), his 7 grandchildren, Aaron Morrissette, Jessica Morrissette, Adam Morrissette, Melissa Morrissette, Sarah Lavallee (Morrissette), Mariah Morrissette, Shawna Morrissette, his great grandchildren, Lillian and Kai. He was a loving uncle to several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents Art and Hermine Morrissette. He was brother to the late Hector Morrissette, the late Bob Morrissette, the late Theresa Ethier and the late Jeannette Morrissette and brother-in- law to the late Ellena (late Foy) Gullick, Betty (late Judd) Zadow, the late Angelina (late Gary) Duquettte, Virgina (late Norman) Lafontaine, Adele Morrissette, Judy Morrissette (Late Jerry Ethier) (late Cecil Rawn)

Leo was a very active man who would walk every day to work at the ONR where he was an Engineer for 38 years. He went to the gym regularly and continued even while he had Parkinson’s. He was passionate about playing guitar and singing country and western music and cooking a la Ratatouille as well as gardening and travelling to Nelli Lake in the summer. He loved going on those sunny trips south with his sisters and brothers-in-law.

The family would like to express a special thank you to all the people including Dr. Laronde and the Near North physician group as well as Dr. Jinnha and Dr. Foell, who provided excellent care to Mr. Morrissette at the North Bay Regional Heath Center
during his stay.

Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Leo Morrissette.