Louise Johnson

JOHNSON, Louise Florine (Teich)?Louise Florine (Teich) Johnson of Storrs died peacefully at age 95 on Monday (February 2, 2009). She was the beloved wife of the late Reuben B. Johnson to whom she was married for over 50 years and loving mother of Reuben B. Johnson III and the late Jill (Johnson) Rourke. Born in Houston, TX on October 11, 1913, Louise will be remembered as a devoted wife, a nurturing mother, a loving grandmother and great grandmother, a passionate educator, an accomplished poet, a skilled artist and a dedicated community volunteer. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in 1936 and received an MS in 1953. After college she taught at Canton High School and at Hamden High School. For over 25 years she was a committed professor and administrator in the University of Connecticut's School of Home Economics and in the School of Family Studies, where she taught courses in clothing and fashion and textile design. In the early 1960's she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, the AAUW, The Women's Club of Storrs and the Storrs Congregational Church. Along with her husband she was a dedicated unofficial leader of the UConn Class of 1936. Louise felt a deep affection for the University not only because of her academic and professional connections, but also because she was surrounded by the works of her father, Frederic C. Teich, the architect of more than 20 buildings on the UConn campus, including the Wilber Cross Library, the Jorgenson Center for the Performing Arts, the Student Union, and the Greer Field House. She received many honors from the University of Connecticut, including a Special Recognition Award from the School of Family Studies, the School Alumni Society's Distinguished Service Award and the UConn Alumni Association's University Service Award. The University recognized her lifetime of contributions by awarding her its highest honor, the University Medal, jointly with her husband, in 1990. Louise was predeceased by her three brothers, Frederic C. Teich Jr., Louis M. Teich, and Robert J. Teich and is survived by her sisters-in-law Edythe Teich of West Hartford and Virginia Vail Teich of Owosso, MI, her son Reuben B. Johnson III, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A service of remembrance and celebration of her life will be held on February 21 at 2 p.m. at The Storrs Congregational Church in Storrs. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to The Frederic C. Teich Scholarship Fund at The University of Connecticut Foundation.