Leonard C. Johnson

Leonard C. "Len" Johnson, age 88, passed away in his Walpole, Massachusetts home on Saturday, September 1, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1930, he was the son of the late Leonard R. and Mary E. (Guiney) Johnson. He was raised in Roxbury, where he was a member of the Mission Church, and as a young man, he played baseball in the Boston Park League. Len graduated from Boston Trade High School with the Class of 1948. As an avid baseball player, after graduation, Len signed with the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 19. He played with the Phillies organization in Nova Scotia and Upstate New York for a couple of seasons, before returning to his hometown of Boston.

Back at home, Len met his wife to be, Mary G. O'Brien, and a few months after enlisting in the Air Force, they were married on September 15, 1951. The couple made their home together in England, while Len finished his active duty service. Len was stationed in England as a fireman, however, he was able to play baseball in the European League, representing the Air Force, taking part in the Air Force Championship in Germany.

Upon his discharge in 1955, Len and Mary returned to Mission Hill in Boston, rejoining the Boston Park Baseball League and later settled in Hyde Park. Len took a position with the Boston Fire Department, working on Engine 20, and became a devoted member of the Boston Firefighter's Union, Local 718. He later worked out of Hyde Park, West Roxbury, and Roslindale. As his career flourished, Len made the rank of Lieutenant on December 17, 1969. He retired in 1992, as the Lieutenant of Engine 55 in West Roxbury, after many years of dedicated service to the City of Boston.

Len loved playing sports throughout his life, in his younger years playing baseball, for which he was inducted into the Boston Park League Hall of Fame in 2009. As he got older, Len found his passion for the game of golf, playing in the Boston Firefighter's Golf League at the Easton Country Club. After his retirement, Len and Mary loved spending the winter months in Naples, Florida, eventually purchasing a condo near Mary's brother, Billy, and some of Len's friends from the Fire Department.

Most of all, Len was a dedicated family man, who treasured the time that he spent with those he loved. It was during the "Johnson Open" that Len gathered his whole family together at Green Harbor in Marshfield, where he would make lobster dinners for everyone, laughing and reminiscing well into the night. As a devoted grandfather, Len ensured that he attended all of his grandchildren's sporting events and competitions during their high school and college years.

Beloved husband of the late Mary G. (O'Brien) Johnson, 1st Miss. Mission.
Loving father of Leonard C. Johnson, II and his wife Mary of S. Easton, Deborah Hartnett and her husband Michael of Franklin, Karen Sweeney and her husband John of Walpole, Mary Ellen Belmonte and her husband James of Walpole, Robert Johnson and his wife Clary of Mansfield.
Cherished grandfather of Leonard, III, Christine, Kim, Michael, Brian, Lauren, John, Tim,
Meaghan, Anthony, Sean, Robert, Christopher, Clarisa, and the late Molly and great grandfather of Abigail, Colin, Liam, Thomas, Henry, Charles, Bennett, Harrison, Theodore, Evalyn, Noah, Hannah, Madelyn, Riley and Fiona.
Brother of William "Buddy" Johnson of Natick and the late Mary Wilcox.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Len's Life Celebration on Thursday, September 6, 2018 from 4 to 8 PM and Friday, September 7, 2018 from 9 to 9:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Timothy's Church, Nichols Street, Norwood on Friday, September 7, 2018 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Mount Benedict Cemetery in Boston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or at www.dana-farber.org/gift.