It is with sadness that the family of Robert Brooks Johnson announces his passing after a very brief illness. He was born in Somerville, Mass. on December 13th, 1937. He was the son of the late Albert Johnson and Adelaide (Small) Johnson.
A proud veteran of the US Navy Destroyer fleet, he remained dedicated to those little ships: volunteering for many years with his beloved late brother-in-law Raymond Howell maintaining the museum ship USS Cassin Young at the Charlestown Navy Yard. He had many good shipmates there whose company he greatly enjoyed both on and off the ship through the years.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ellen (Chickie) Johnson (Howell), brother Dwight William Johnson, sister Margaret (Peggy) Olivieri, brothers-in-law Raymond and William Howell, and their spouses.
He is survived by his children, Stephen and his wife Cheryl, his son Douglas and his wife Susan, and his daughter Ellen and her husband John, as well as by his grandchildren Keifer, Kendall, Taylor, Connor, Briana and Crysta, and great grandchildren Liam, Lily, Isla. Also by many loving nieces and nephews on both sides of the extended family. He is also survived by his loving sister-in-law Florence (Flo) Brady and cousin Joan Noto (Salin).
Bob was the archetypical “fix-it” guy who spent a long career in auto mechanics, appliance repair, commercial saw service and lastly, computer support. There really wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix. He ultimately led service organizations for companies like Frigidaire and Hendricks Saw. Of course, he was the “go-to” for the family when anything was broken. He was the rare senior who didn’t struggle with new technology, but embraced it.
At one time, he was a small business owner in Ipswich, Mass. where he owned his own Appliance Sales and Service firm Johnson & Howell Appliance, along (again) with his brother-in-law Ray. It may have been the happiest time in his career. He loved the Rowley & Ipswich communities.
He had a reputation as a steady person to have at your side when things went wrong, but his help always came with the sometimes-unwelcome dose of
common-sense feedback. All would agree: he was always there for you.
In retirement he was thrilled to crawl out from under the chassis, and he was able to purchase and drive a number of high-performance cars, including a number of Porsche models. It was obviously more fun for him to drive them, rather than fix them. Seeing him tooling around in the sporty cars was often a source of amusement for other drivers, and for occasional concern from his children!
His was a life well-lived. He was fierce, and had a highly defined sense of duty and integrity. He was a rock for the family and he will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, please pledge donations in Robert’s honor to The Friends of the U.S.S. Cassin Young.
Relatives and friends will gather for Calling Hours on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., at F. S. Roberts & Son Funeral Home, Rowley, MA. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., with Rev. Angie F. Estevez, officiating. Interment will follow at Rowley Burial Ground in Rowley, MA.
To light a memorial candle or to leave a message of condolence, please visit www.fsrobertsandson.com.
~ Arrangements entrusted to F. S. Roberts & Son Funeral Home ~
