Imogene G Johnson

Imogene George Johnson was born on March 2, 1921, in Tampa, Florida, the "baby" of three children to Dr. and Mrs. George Wesley Patrick Johnson. The intended last child of her parents, Imogene was "supposed" to be the highly desired son and thus acquired the middle name "George"! She attended St. Peter Claver Catholic Elementary School and Booker T. Washington High School, graduating in January, 1936.

Imogene graduated from Indiana University June 2, 1941, followed by a couple of years of teaching in South Carolina. She was then accepted at Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, D.C., and graduated in June 1949. She completed her residency training at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. It was during these years that she met and married Dr. James C. Dunn, (Jim), in 1952. The couple moved to Buffalo, New York the year they were married. Western New York became their permanent geographical home. To this union four children were born: James II, Gina, Gregory and Guy. Imogene was very involved in community awareness organizations. Always remaining a devout Catholic, she was especially dedicated to the St. Martin De Porres Club and the Catholic Family Movement. Her other focus was her family and dedication to her children. Imogene loved to read, socialize and was blessed to have had opportunities to travel worldwide.

Imogene was the first African American physician to complete a residency program in the specialty of pathology at Buffalo General Hospital, under the training of the late Dr. Kornell Terplan. She then completed a two year fellowship in pathology at the now Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Upon returning to Buffalo, Imogene held positions as a staff pathologist at Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo Mercy Hospital, Erie County Medical Center, and the former Buffalo Columbus Hospital. After a family move to Tucson, Arizona in 1978, Imogene returned to Buffalo to continue her career which included training at Roswell Park Memorial Cancer Institute.

In 1999, Imogene moved to the St. Louis area to be near her daughter. A few years later she moved into the Homer G. Phillips Senior Living Center. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and unable to live independently, Imogene became a resident at Delmar Gardens of Creve Coure, long term care skilled facility. She also participated in the Knight's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center for Memory and Aging.

She was dearly loved and cherished by her family, friends and caretakers, who easily bonded with her warm friendly smile, sense of humor and playful antics!

Dr. Johnson experienced repeated hospitalizations in the year 2011. On August 18, 2011 she passed away peacefully after not being strong enough to fight off a serious infection. She is predeceased by: her parents, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson and Dr. George Wesley Patrick Johnson; sisters, Mercedes Guess and E. Yvonne Johnson. Survivors include her children, James C. Dunn, II, M.D., Gina (Dunn) Heard, Gregory Dunn, and Guy Dunn; former husband, James C. Dunn, M.D.; grandchildren, Kaliegh, Maxwell, Kasondra, DJ, Bailey, Ryan, Elise and Lucas; niece, Marcia (Tom) Fugate; several grand nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.