Richard S. Johnson

RICHARD S. JOHNSON, Sr. "Dick" Passed away peacefully at his mountain home in Sapphire, NC on August 25. A lifelong resident of Palm Beach County, he was born in West Palm Beach on June 30, 1930 to Catharine Quinn Johnson and Richard Greene Johnson. He was a graduate of Duke University where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Dick married his wife, Patsy Seaton, in 1951. He founded and served as president and shareholder of Cornelius, Johnson & Clark, Inc., in 1961 a well-respected West Palm Beach insurance agency. In 1976 he founded Flagler National bank where he served as chairman. He continued to serve on the board following the sale of the bank to SunTrust until 2000. He founded Johnson Investment Group where he worked with his two sons in real estate acquisition and development. He was president of Johnson Farms, Inc. and managing partner of Flagler Center, the premier water front office center. He was the recipient of many community awards including the Intracoastal Health Systems Renaissance Award, the Palm Beach Atlantic University American Free Enterprise Award, the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Award, the Community Foundation Celebration of Philanthropy Award and the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Lifetime Achievement Award. Dick and his wife were very involved in philanthropy supporting Duke University Medical Center where he served on the Board of Visitors. He served as the longtime president of St. Mary's Medical Center. He also served on the Palm Beach Civic Association's board of directors, the Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute Board, the University of Florida Health-Science Center Board of Overseers, Rosarian Academy Advisory Board, Norton Museum of Art Board of Directors, Palm Beach Atlantic University Board of Trustees, The Marshal E. Rinker, Sr. Foundation Board, and the Palm Beach County Historical Society Board of Directors. They also donated the funds needed to open the Palm Beach County History Museum, which is named after them. He was a member of Bethesda-by-the-Sea Church. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Pat; children, Patt Sned (Bill), Cathy Flagg (Jack), Helene Austin (Keith), Richard Johnson, Jr. (Charlene), and Scott Johnson (Kristy); 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his brother, Edward; and a host of loving friends and colleagues. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Catharine Johnson Morrison. His love and passion for life enriched the lives of all of those he touched. His family's lives are immeasurably better because of him. His greatest love was or his wife, Pat and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The world is a better place because he lived in it. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 31, 2012 at 1:00 PM at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-The-Sea, Palm Beach, FL. The family will receive friends following the Service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his honor to the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, 300 N Dixie Highway, Suite 471, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, (561) 832-4164; and the Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center, 512 S. Mangum Street, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27701-3973, 919-385-3137. QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL HOME Family Owned and Operated (561) 832-5171