Gregory E. Johnson ’78

Gregory Johnson died Feb. 1, 2011, after a struggle with lung cancer.

Greg grew up in Summit, N.J., graduated from Summit High School, and entered Princeton with the Class of ’76. A politics major, he worked for the State of New Jersey in youth services before obtaining a master’s degree from the New School in New York and a Ph.D. from Rutgers in political science. He taught as an adjunct professor in the history and politics departments at the New School for many years. In 1976 Greg ran Jimmy Carter’s campaign in Tennessee. He was also a key member of the team that led James Florio’s 1981 bid for New Jersey governor.

Though Greg faced many challenges in life, his kind, gentle nature endured to the end, and he was deeply loved by many fellow Princetonians. During his final illness classmates from all over the country came to see and care for him in Piscataway, N.J., including David LaPlante ’77 and his wife, Kathy; Bob Perkins ’76; Mike Conneran ’76; Stanley Higgs ’76; Gerry Hogan ’77; and Gina Vogt ’77.

The class extends condolences to them and to Greg’s surviving family members: his father, Donald; sister Lori; and brother Donald.