It is with profound sadness that Pat Johnson announces the loss of her beloved husband Jim. He passed away at age 88 on December 7, 2021, in Vancouver, BC. Jim is also mourned by his beloved daughter Emily Johnson, son-in-law Adrian Pick and grandchildren Leah and Jack Pick. He will be sorely missed by many family members and friends in Canada and the United States.
Jim was born in the small town of Papalote, Texas on November 6, 1933. He was the eldest son of James Harlan Johnson and his wife Ruth Palmer Johnson. Jim was predeceased by his parents and his brothers Marvin Ray and John Perry. He is survived by his brother Benjamin Wallace Johnson of Crockett, California.
Two years after completing high school Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force serving for four years as an instrument flight instructor. Upon fulfilling his military duty, he attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned his PhD in Psychology. Jim met his wife Pat while he was completing a post doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They married in 1967 and half a year later moved to Vancouver, BC where Jim became a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia.
Jim was multifaceted. He will be remembered as a devoted family man, a loyal friend and a person who enjoyed intellectual pursuits his entire life. He was well read, and he had a keen sense of social justice. Jim was a sports enthusiast. Football and baseball were his favorites. He became a highly regarded member of the Vancouver men’s fastball community, having played the sport for many years. Last of all, no one will forget Jim’s terrific sense of humor. Remarkably, he could employ this humor in a variety of ways, even when lecturing students about statistics and experimental design. As well, he was a great conversationalist and storyteller who could delight listeners. Social gatherings will not be the same without him.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date, due to Covid restrictions.