Eric Bradley Johnson

Eric was born to Charlotte and Jerry Johnson in 1970 in Santa Barbera County, CA. His early years were spent crisscrossing the country in his parent’s VW Bus, following Jerry’s work in the United States Air Force to New York and California, and visiting family in North Carolina and Louisiana. Eric’s family finally settled in Satellite Beach, FL in 1979.

Eric graduated from Satellite High School in 1988 and headed to Auburn University to begin his bachelor of science. It was here that he met the mother of his two children, Marlena Nails. They were married in 1992 and welcomed their son Bradley the following year. Eric graduated from Auburn in 1994 with a Bachelors in Environmental Science and began working as an engineer in Montgomery, AL supporting his young family.

In 1996 Eric moved his family back to his childhood home on the Space Coast of Florida where he began a 30 year career working at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. In 1998 Eric and Marlena settled permanently in Merritt Island and welcomed their second son, Nicholas. Through the mid and late 2000’s Eric served as the Environmental Safety and Health Manager for the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center, through the retrofit to support the final assembly of the Orion Crew Modules. During his long career, Eric supported many missions critical to our nation’s security and to the future of spaceflight.

Eric had a smile and laugh unmatched. Eric loved his family fiercely and sacrificed all he could to support them every day. Eric loved his friends. Eric was larger than life. Eric was a force of nature. But above all, Eric gave of himself endlessly.

Eric never stopped demonstrating his passion for his family, friends and community. He served many years as a baseball coach for his own children and his god-son, and served a term on the board of North Merritt Island Little League. For nearly 20 years, Eric poured himself into his charity work through the Elks. Eric was a Past Exalted Ruler of the Merritt Island Elks Lodge, Past District Deputy, and was active as State Director for the Elks Hoop Shoot program. Through his service with the Elks Hoop Shoot program, Eric changed hundreds of lives and touched thousands more, inspiring his family, friends, peers, and the next generation.

Eric traveled the country following his kids to support them and watch them do what they love most. He drove through the night and flew to the ends of the earth to watch his eldest son play music and his youngest son coach basketball. Eric loved live music and going to monthly shows with his niece and concert buddy, Charlotte. And in his last year, he traveled nonstop to see his newest passion, his grandson, Jasper.

Eric Johnson inspired in all who knew him a love of life, and provided them all an example of a life truly well lived. Eric Johnson instilled in his loved ones a sense of duty and a love of service. Eric Johnson showered his family with a love they will never be without.

He is survived by his two sons, Bradley Johnson (Ashleigh) and Nicholas Johnson and their mother, Marlena, his grandson, Jasper Johnson, his brother, Michael Johnson (Cynthia), his nieces and nephews, Charlotte Johnson, Celina Wainer, and Adonis Wainer.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Eric's honor to the Elks National Foundation Hoop Shoot program.