Robert Bradford Johnson

Rob was born in Macon, Georgia on September 20, 1963; he was the youngest of four children. We were shocked when he came home with a full head of black hair while his siblings were decidedly blond. We were concerned that we had gotten the wrong baby. He was the right baby and eventually his black hair turned very blond. Rob attended kindergarten at Miss Duffy’s Playhouse and regularly refused to get out of the car when his sister Debbie dropped him off on her way to school. Rob would probably deny this. Rob attended Stratford Academy through the 10th grade. He may not have been the greatest student; but, unlike his older brothers, he truly excelled in all sports, particularly soccer.

Rob was not a bad boy, but a few times he got into some situations that raised his parents’ blood pressure. On one occasion he and his friend John decided it would be fun to have a fire in their fort below a pine tree in John’s back yard. Unfortunately the fire got out of control, the fort went up in flames and fire started crawling up the pine tree before the fire department arrived. Rob and John were very exciting to see the fire truck and waved to the firemen as they passed.

During mid 1960’s our family took extended summer camping trips to California and Maine. Somewhere out in the west, Rob and his friend David (both four at the time) decided they were going to take their axes and go bear hunting. Fortunately they were stopped before they could get too far. While we were visiting Washington DC, Mom was trying to get us to cross a street near the Lincoln Memorial. Traffic was crazy and Mom said we’d better step on it, to which Rob asked “step on what?” Rob also wandered off one day on the Mall; after frantically searching, we found him in the basement of one of the museums drinking cokes with this buddies the guards. Rob’s natural ease with people and his ability to befriend anyone were key parts of his character and would stay with him throughout his life.

And contrary to local lore, Rob was not the one who toilet papered Ms. Lovein’s front yard.

Following in his brothers’ footsteps, Rob went to boarding school in the 10th grade. This change was not Rob’s choice which he made very clear by running away to a friend’s house. Mom and Dad were no match for his negotiating skills; Rob got a new stereo among other goodies in exchange for agreeing to try the new school. Rob quickly felt at home at Westtown School. He considered it one of the most important times in his life, and it was a place he made great lifelong friends, including Dave Stoudt, Lucy Cooper, Tim Webster, and Dave Weston. It was at Westtown that he developed a lifelong relationship with the Quaker community. He graduated in May of 1982.

Rob began his college career at Guilford College in North Carolina. After his first year, Rob took some time off from school and had an opportunity to travel in Europe. He ended up in London where he worked for Peter Wetherell who assisted Americans in finding homes in London. When he came back to the states, he completed his degree in Business Administration at Georgia State University in 1989.

In Atlanta he began his long work association with Freddie Mac. In the early 90’s he was able to transfer to the headquarters in Washington, DC where both of his older brothers lived. In 2002 he met his future wife Danielle Vien at Freddie Mac.

In 2004 at the lighthouse on the island of Eleuthera, Rob proposed to Danielle and gave Danielle his grandmother’s engagement ring. On August 20, 2005 they were married in Whistler, Canada on the shore of Green Lake surrounded by family and friends. John Wise, Rob’s great friend from Guilford, was the best man, and delivered a suitably embarrassing and touching toast. It was a beautiful day; Rob was beaming with joy, and Danielle was radiant.

Rob and Danielle settled into their house on 6th Street South in Arlington. Rob’s two brothers were also in DC, and so ‘bothers’ night out’ were a regular event. Cook outs in the back yard and visits from his parents made Rob and Danielle’s house the center for many family events.

On August 14, 2007, Rob and Danielle’s beautiful daughter Kate was born. Rob took great joy from Kate, and truly relished being a father. At times he seemed almost in awe of this new life in his family. Kate completely captured her dad’s heart, and he loved her dearly.

On October 27, 2010, Kate became a proud big sister when her brother Miles Tanner was born. Like his big sister before him, Miles brought great joy to his dad’s life. And Miles’ birth ensured the Johnson family line would continue; Rob was the last son of the three Johnson brothers from Bunkie, LA, and the only son to have a son of his own.

Rob is survived by his wife Danielle and their two children, Kate (4) and Miles (10 months). Rob’s surviving family includes his mother Elizabeth, his sister Debbie and her husband John, his brother Eric and his partner Ric, his brother Frederick, and his niece Elizabeth, her husband Steve and their two sons Nicholas and Will. Rob’s father Donald passed away on September 7, 2010.

A fund has been created for Danielle, Kate and Miles. Contributions can be sent to the following address:

Roselee Benshoof

Attn: Johnson Family Contributions

8250 Jones Branch Drive

Mail Stop A3F

McLean, VA 22102-3110

Phone Number : 703-918-5201

Email : [email protected]

Checks should be made out to Danielle Johnson.

Arrangements under the direction of National Funeral Home, Falls Church, VA.