Curtis Drew Johnson

Dr. Curtis Johnson passed away on October 15, 2023, in Canon City, Colorado, where he had lived for the past 16 years after relocating from Texas.

Curtis lived in the Pacific Northwest and California for much of his young life.  He grew up in a logging family that frequently relocate, to follow the work.  But he knew as a young teen that he wanted to become a physicist.  That dream was fulfilled with a Doctorate in Physics from the University of California at Berkeley. 

He moved to Texas for a postdoctoral fellowship position at University of Texas, and then took as position at the University of Houston, College of Technology for a career of over 30 years, including serving as the Chairman of the Electrical/Electronics Department, as Associate Dean of the college, and as Director of the Center for Applied Technology.  He is the author of 5 college textbooks, including one that has been translated into Portuguese and Chinese. 

Dr. Johnson participated in an exchange program to develop a technology program for college students at the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Boumerdes, Algeria, including living in Boumerdes in 1981-82 to monitor the program implementation.  In 1999, Dr. Johnson received a Fulbright Scholarship to develop a computer literacy program and start an internet access facility in Baku, Azerbaijan.  While living in Baku, he also taught computer classes at Khazar University.

Curtis was a nationally ranked badminton player for decades, winning many awards in tournaments and at the Senior Games.  He also enjoyed backpacking, hiking, and skiing.   For ten years, he made an annual weeklong trip to Wyoming to ride horses all day and tent camp at night in the back country.  He also joined horseback riders in Australia, riding from village pub to village pub, to see the rural life of New South Wales.  He hiked in Canada, Ireland and France.  Probably the most memorable backpacking trip was on the Chilkoot Trail from Alaska into Canada, including traversing an avalanche field, clambering over giant boulders, and fending off hordes of black flies.  Another memorable trip was hiking the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon down to Phantom Ranch on Bright Angel Creek.  He also loved travelling to other countries to see different cultures and historical sites and enjoyed visiting over 35 countries.

Curtis is survived by his wife Helene Blake of Canon City, sister Laurel Crump of Oregon, sons Jeffrey (Nathalie) Johnson of Belgium and Gregory Johnson of Pasadena, Texas, grandchildren Jolan Johnson and Juline (Dimitri) Johnson Delhaye of Belgium, and Eden and Aurora Johnson of Texas, and grandson Lewis Delhaye, and numerous nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his father Ray Mecredy, mother Vera Salmon Qualls, brother Louis Johnson, former wife Melila Alexandrescu Johnson.

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