E Cooper (Coop) Johnson Elizabeth Campbell “Liz” Johnson

E. Cooper (Coop) Johnson

April 10, 1919-January 18, 2008

Widower Coop Johnson, 45 year resident of Newport Beach, moved to the next plane to see what his beloved wife, Liz Johnson, has been up to for the last 12 years.

Born in Hollywood, CA, schooled at LA High School, and later at Stanford University, Coop enlisted in the Naval Reserve Officers Program (a “90 day wonder”)when WW2 broke out. Little did he know, as he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, that the sea would have such a huge calling for him.

Upon discharge from the Navy, he went to work riding the rails for General Electric’s Diesel-Electric Railroad Locomotive division. It was during his stint with them that he met his future wife, Liz, in Sausalito one afternoon in the early 50’s. They married in 1951, He went to work for Shell Oil Co., and they moved to Fresno. They then moved to Connecticut to follow Shell’s needs and later back to their native California. They moved to Bayshores and found friends they keep for life. Coop immediately got into sailboat racing, everything from The Dear Old’ Dad’s Sabot Race to long distance Mexico races. He made sure his three sons, Gordo, Dougall, and David had all of the instructions and opportunities to follow this avocation to it’s fullest. It worked. We were all pulled in headfirst never to look back.

He retired in 1977 after 25+ years with Shell. This enabled him to get fully involved with his boating addiction. He served as an officer for the Balboa Yacht Club a number of times, Commodore of the Naples Sabot Ass. and the Association of Orange Coast Yacht Clubs, and as a representative of SCYA. He also managed to slip in hundreds of weekends at Catalina Island.

His proudest moment was serving on the ’84 Olympic Race Committee as a member of the “Gophers”. Using his contacts from SCYA and Shell, he procured numerous necessities, as donations, to make sure the Yachting portion of the Olympics were put on in a first class manner.

He was preceded in death by his wonderful wife Liz. Since we missed the boat with her announcement, we’ll do it now.

Elizabeth Campbell “Liz” Johnson

March 1, 1922-January 3, 1996

Liz was born in San Jose, CA and lived the life of a ranch family. As she grew up, she met the likes of famed botanist Luther Burbank, a personal friend of her father. Riding horses and being the youngest of her family turned her into somewhat of a self-described Tomboy. Despite going to all girls’ schools, Castelleja and Sarah Lawrence College, Liz was just as comfortable hanging out with her sons and their friends as with the Wives and girlfriends. Hence the moniker “Aunt Liz” was born.

When World War 2 started, Liz found her way as a volunteer with the Red Cross, an organization that she would have a lifelong commitment to. She helped nurse servicemen back to health and after the war, would be involved with the Red Cross Blood Bank as a blood donor (the number of gallon pins is astounding) or as a volunteer assisting with the collecting of blood. She would have to shift to different locations when they realized that she was donating quite a bit more often than they would have liked. If a friend or family member needed blood, Liz had more than enough blood in her account to pay off the debt. That was her style.

As Coop was on the road quite often for Shell, Liz bore the brunt of raising three “busy” boys. Shoveling snow, battening down the hatches to weather the remnants of two hurricanes, and dealing with broken wells in Connecticut were all taken in stride. Her childhood ranching experience definitely paid off there.

Liz was also very fond of Siamese cats and Dobermans. Many family friends have commented that they would love to be one of Liz’s pets; fat, warm, and happy.

She also caught the yachting bug and volunteered constantly to her favorite clubs, Balboa Yacht Club and the NOSA (who put on the Ensenada Race). Her two highlight events were traveling to Newport Rhode Island for the America’s Cup Defender Trials and being in the Ceremonies for the ’84 Olympics in LA with Coop.

Liz exuded class and strength her entire life. Although only 5 foot 1 inch, many was the big man that was looking for a ladder to climb out of his shoes if he happened to raise her ire.

Liz and Coop are survived by their three sons and three grandchildren. Gordon, Dougall with wife Cynthia and daughter Lacey, and David with wife Roz and daughter Jacqueline and son Alexander.

A celebration of his life will take place at Balboa Yacht Club at noon on Tuesday February 26th following spreading of the ashes at sea. (Leaving the dock at approx. 0930)

1801 Bayside Dr. Corona del Mar. 949-673-3515

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donating to the Governor’s Cup Yacht Maintenance Fund which can be found by contacting BYC.