Obituary of Richard Johnson

Schenectady - Richard Paul Johnson, age 76, died at home on Tuesday, October 25th, 2016, after a short battle with cancer. Born May 31, 1940, in Schenectady, NY to Mary and Stanley Johnson, Rick grew up in the Stockade section of Schenectady at a time when it was a close knit community. He is fondly remembered by many as "Ricky, the paperboy" and could often be found hanging out with his friends at the site of Lawrence the Indian. Rick attended Nott Terrace High School and was a member of the first graduating class of Linton High School. He received a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a master's degree in social work from Boston College. Rick met his wife, Gert, during high school. They were married in 1963 and started a life together on Wilson Ave. in Schenectady. Celebrating their 50th anniversary was one of the many blessings of their marriage. Rick dedicated his life to serving church, community, individuals with special needs and young people in crisis. He began his career as a social worker with Catholic Charities. He then held various positions in New York State, including Executive Deputy Director of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. Not content to retire, his last positions were as Chief Operating Officer at Parsons Child and Family Center and as founder of the Capital Region Child and Adolescent Mobile Crisis Team. Personally, Rick devoted countless hours to N.Y. State Special Olympics (serving as board president for many years), was an active member of his parish, St. John the Baptist (acting as parish council president for the three years prior to its closing) and served on the board of Schenectady ARC. Survivors include his wife, Gert; his brother, Stanley "Skip" Johnson (wife, Marie); his daughters, Kirsten Johnson Moore and Jennifer Olsen and son-in-law, David Olsen. Rick was blessed with four grandchildren, Caitlin, Ryan, Samuel, Sarah; one great-grandchild, Storm; and three nieces, Karen, Susan and Kathleen. Rick was a communicant of St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church (1241 State Street, Schenectady). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held there for him on Saturday, October 29th at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery at 100 King Road, Schenectady, NY. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at Daly Funeral Home, Inc., 242 McClellan St., Schenectady, on Friday, October 28th from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Capital Region Child and Adolescent Mobile Crisis Team, Northern Rivers Family Services, P.O. Box 8899, Albany, NY 12208.