Lydia Marion Johnson

Lydia Johnson was born November 26, 1927 in Stamford Connecticut to Lydia Sonn Mershon and John William Mershon. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa as a physics major from Connecticut College in New London Connecticut in 1949. She was then employed by General Electric. At GE she met and then married Herbert M. Johnson in 1951. They moved to Springfield, Illinois in the 1950’s where she was an avid gardener, active in the garden club and dedicated to family life. In 1963 the family moved to Canada for her husband’s job. They resided in South Lancaster, Ontario where she lived until 2023 when she transitioned to St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre in Cornwall.

Several years after arriving in Canada, she and her husband founded the business known as C Tech Ltd., later acquired by Nautel. C-Tech invented and produced a trademarked OMNI-Sonar and other speciality sonar sold to fisheries and navies worldwide. Lydia was known for her demanding but fair management style, intelligence and determination; and admired for her pioneering spirit as a female executive.

She later served on the Founding Board of the Cornwall Community Hospital, and the Board of Directors of the River Institute. She received a Lifetime Business Achievement award in 2007 from the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce. She served on the board of St. Lawrence College and received an honorary diploma in 2011 ”in recognition of her outstanding example, inspiration and leadership”.

Lydia Johnson was an avid Bridge player, active in Martintown and Cornwall. She played the piano, and loved the Opera. She was a supporter of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and she enjoyed her season tickets to the Montreal Symphony.

Her aesthetic sense was visible in her home and her impeccable sense of style. She also delighted in working in her garden and observing the birds, squirrels and the nature surrounding her home. The flocks of Canada geese were welcomed, but not always appreciated.

She had a long and fruitful life and will be remembered by family, cherished friends, and those with whom she worked. She was predeceased by her husband Herbert M. Johnson in 1995, her sister Jeanne Condie and her brother William R. Mershon. She is survived by her children William Johnson (Georgi), Leslie Johnson and Andrea Derouin (Dennis); her grandchildren Erik, Alex, Alecia, Matthew and Dafne and great-grandchildren Charlotte, Etta and Ollen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Lahaie and Sullivan West Branch, 20 Seventh Street West, Cornwall on Thursday, May 28, 2026, between the hours of 2:00PM and 4:00PM.

As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to the St. Joseph’s Care Foundation would be appreciated by the family.