John Howard Johnson

John Howard Johnson left this world, in New York City on November 8, 2022. His life began in Louisville, KY with Pauline O’Mahoney and Henry Howard “Bus” Johnson on August 8th. He took the year of his birth to his grave.

While his father served in WWII, John and his mother returned to the family’s home in Maysville, KY. This move helped his aunt, Helen O’Mahoney, be a great influence and support to John. He also enjoyed the benefits of being the oldest grandson of his maternal grandmother, Margaret Clooney O’Mahoney.

When John was 14, his father suddenly passed away, leaving him to fill big shoes. He soon became the family driver, teacher and role model.

John was educated at St. Patrick School, Morehead State College and The Ohio State University with degrees in English and Theater. At his mother’s insistence, he secured a teaching certificate so “he would always have something to fall back on.”

After his first year of college, John was instrumental in organizing a local summer production of “Our Town.” The core of local people from that success, morphed into the Maysville Players, which continues as a regional theater organization to this day. A friend recently shared, “For many of us who followed and grew up in the Washington Opera House and then went on to follow our dreams of performing or working in the theater or in film-John was the North Star.”

John had various jobs during his youth. He was a paperboy; a pizza maker; put Christmas toys together at Merz Bros; summer work at Brownings and a teenage Deputy Circuit Clerk for his Uncle Charlie Clift. John “fell back on” his teaching credentials with his first adult job at South Georgia College. After fulfilling his one-year contract, he sold his car, moved to New York City and never looked back.

His first goal was obtaining his NYC Public Library card. He soon accomplished his second goal of securing employment and landed a writing job for the game show, Jeopardy! He was able to make a living in NYC in his chosen field of the arts. John was a writer, actor, director, producer, artist and photographer. With his work, he was able to travel the world many times, often producing, directing and acting in plays on cruise ships. John will be remembered for his numerous professional board and committee appointments as well has his volunteer work during the AIDS crisis and with the homeless.

Being a member of the artist community allowed him to be one of the first residents of Manhattan Plaza. There, on his 38th floor terrace, three blocks from Times Square, he was able to celebrate decades of the ball falling on New Year’s Eve as well as watching the horror of the Twin Towers falling on 9/11. His apartment was often open for a gathering of friends, New Year Eve parties and to share his Kentucky roots with his annual KY Derby party.

Like his father, John never met a stranger. Like his Uncle Johnny, the Irish Blarney was deeply embedded in his DNA. John was also a proud, loyal and vocal feminist and liberal. He loved NYC and Kentucky. He considered himself a “New Yorker” as well as a “Southern” but without the accent.

It is often said we are given family but pick friends. John was lucky to have many friends, whom he picked, to become family. Not the least of which is Tom Myler, who was with him through thick and thin. In addition to Tom, longtime friends, Janette Gautier and Mark Eisman, stood as family with John, during his final curtain call.

When things got tough, John would often say, “Tomorrow is another day.” Today is a new day and by now, John has organized family and friends (Anne Parker, June Staker, Louise Osborne, Blair Tillett etc.); cast and blocked the “Celestial Production” of “Our Town”. Break a leg…John…break a leg.

His brother, Robert, his sister, Ann, of Maysville and his Clift/Johnson/O’Mahoney/Clooney cousins as well as many friends, survive John.

A celebration of his life will be held in NYC later date.

Donations may be made in his memory to the Actors Fund of America https://entertainmentcommunity.org/ or The Maysville Players http://maysvilleplayers.net/ at P. O Box 537, Maysville, KY 41056.

https://www.brellandson.com/ and https://www.reddenfuneralhome.net/ are serving the family.