RADM Robert L. Johanson, USCG (RET)

December 27, 1933 - February 4, 2025

Rear Admiral (RADM) Robert Louis (Bob) Johanson, United States Coast Guard (RET),‬ passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on February 4, 2025, in Severna Park,‬ Maryland. Bob's devotion to his faith, his family, and his country was evident in‬ everything he did. He cherished his relationships with family and maintained many close‬ friendships throughout his life, including very special bonds formed during his Coast‬ Guard career.‬

‭Bob is survived by his seven sons and their wives: Robert(Elaine), Michael(Allison),‬ Jeffrey(Lori), Steven(Sharon), Eric, Christopher(Nina), and Kurt(Melissa); as well as 26‬ grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Zita‬ Smith and Karen Flaherty; brothers-in-law Don Burns and Nate Moore; and numerous‬ nieces and nephews who were always in his thoughts and prayers.‬

Bob was predeceased by his beloved wife, Joan, in 2017. Their marriage of 62 years‬ was a testament to the power of commitment and true love. He was also preceded in‬ death by his parents, Robert Arthur and Charlotte Fricke Johanson of West Hartford,‬ Connecticut; sister Susan Johanson of Avon, Connecticut; and sister Judy Moore of‬ Gadsden, Alabama.‬

‭Born December 27, 1933, in Brooklyn, New York, Bob and his family later moved to‬ Rahway, New Jersey and then to Mayfield, Illinois, where he attended Proviso Township‬ High School. It was there, after making the varsity baseball team, that Bob's passion for‬ America's National Pastime began. He went on to play baseball at the Coast Guard‬ Academy and became a lifelong fan of the game.‬

As a senior in high school, Bob's dream was to attend one of the military academies‬ and serve his country. His dream came true when, shortly after he graduated, his sister‬ Susie excitedly handed over an acceptance letter from the Coast Guard Academy. He‬ then moved to New London, Connecticut to pursue his dream, and as fate would have‬ it, a chance encounter would forever change his destiny. It was there, on an Ocean‬ Beach ballfield, that Bob literally ran into his future wife, Joan Flaherty, who attended‬ nearby Connecticut College. They both graduated in the spring of 1955 and were‬ married on September 3 that same year.‬

Over the next nine years, Bob and Joan were blessed with seven sons. During the‬ course of raising their seven sons, Bob and Joan moved 12 times and lived in 8‬ different states, including tours in New York, New Jersey, Florida, California, Ohio,‬ Texas(twice), Alaska (twice), and Maryland (3 times).‬‭

At the start of his military career, Bob served aboard Coast Guard Cutter‬‭ Half Moon‬‭ and‬ was Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Cutter‬‭ Cape‬‭ George‬‭ and two Coast Guard‬ LORAN stations. During one of his LORAN assignments, Bob was inspired to pursue‬ aviation. Beginning in 1960, he attended aviation flight training in Pensacola, Florida‬ and in Corpus Christi, Texas. Bob completed flight training and was designated Coast‬ Guard Aviator #869 in 1961. One year later, he completed helicopter pilot training and‬ was designated Coast Guard Helicopter Pilot #418. Bob's early aviation assignments‬ included Search and Rescue duties at Coast Guard Air Stations in San Diego, California‬ and on Annette Island, Alaska. In 1968, he was assigned as Coast Guard Liaison‬ Officer for Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Later, Bob served as‬ Commanding Officer of Air Station Houston, Texas and Kodiak, Alaska. Bob's‬ management positions included Chief, Aeronautical Engineering Division and Deputy‬ Chief, Office of Engineering at Coast Guard Headquarters. In addition, he served as‬ Commander, Coast Guard Group Baltimore.‬

‭Bob was selected for Flag Rank in 1984 while serving as Chief of Staff, Third Coast‬ Guard District, headquartered on Governors Island, New York. In 1985, Bob was‬ promoted to one-star Rear Admiral (RDML) and given command of the First Coast‬ Guard District in Boston, Massachusetts. Later, Bob was promoted to two-star Rear‬ Admiral(RADM) and became Chief, Office of Engineering, Logistics and Development at‬ Coast Guard Headquarters before retiring in 1991. During Bob's distinguished 36-year‬ military career, he served at 18 duty stations and received numerous military awards,‬ including the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Air Medal, and two‬ Coast Guard Commendation Medals.‬

‭Bob and Joan returned to Severna Park in 1988 and remained there after his retirement‬ in 1991. He and Joan were active parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Catholic‬ Church for over 40 years and faithfully served in several church ministries including‬ SPAN, Meals on Wheels, and the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Bob was also a‬ member of the Knights of Columbus and taught STEM courses at Broadneck High‬ School for two years. He and Joan regularly visited family and friends around the‬ country and enjoyed memorable trips to destinations throughout Europe and the Holy‬ Land.‬

‭In retirement, Bob indulged his passion for baseball as a season ticket holder for the‬ Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals, meticulously keeping score on a‬ scorecard each game he attended. Every March, he and Joan made the 1000-mile drive‬ to Florida during MLB Spring Training.The cottages at the Hillsboro Inlet Light Station in‬ Hillsboro, Florida was a favorite destination where they hosted family vacations, making‬ wonderful memories while basking in the sun on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and‬ watching Spring Training ball games.‬‭ Bob was a generous supporter and regular attendee of Coast Guard Academy Alumni‬ programs and events, including reunions and the Coast Guard Aviation Association‬ Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl Roosts held around the country. During the100‬‭ th‬ anniversary of the Coast Guard in 2016, he was awarded the Coast Guard‬ Distinguished Public Service Award for his dedicated volunteer work from 2005 to 2016.‬ He served as director of the‬‭ Phoenix Project‬‭ , led‬‭ the effort to identify Coast Guard‬ Aviator #1, Elmer Stone, as a pilot of the first successful trans-Atlantic flight in 1919,‬ and worked to ensure recognition of Coast Guard contributions in the‬‭ Monument to a‬ Century of Flight‬‭ sculpture exhibit in Kitty Hawk,‬‭ North Carolina.‬

‭Over a 10-year period, Bob passionately and persistently led the‬‭ Phoenix Project,‬‭ which‬ involved the acquisition and restoration of a HH-52A‬‭ Seaguard‬‭ helicopter for permanent‬ exhibition at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA -‬ the first Coast Guard aircraft inducted into the Museum. Bob flew the HH-52A during‬ most of his career. Over a 25-year period beginning in 1963, this turbine-powered‬ amphibious aircraft was used by the Coast Guard to rescue more than 15,000 lives.‬ Bob was a mentor, role model and the patriarch of the Johanson family. He was a true‬ servant leader in every sense of the word and his life was an embodiment of the golden‬ rule - treat others as you would want to be treated. His legacy of dedication,‬ perseverance, humility, and of uncompromising devotion to his faith, family, and country,‬ serves as an inspiration to three generations of Johanson's and all who were blessed to‬ know him. In paying tribute to and honoring Bob's life, let us remember how he truly‬ impacted our lives in a meaningful way and made us all the better for knowing him, for‬ loving him, and for being loved by him.‬

‭Visitation will be held Friday, February 28, 2025, from 4:00-6:00pm, with a Vigil Service‬ with family words of remembrance to be held at 6:00pm in the Barranco Severna Park‬ Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146. A Mass of Christian‬ Burial will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 12:00pm in St. John Neumann‬ Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road, Annapolis, MD 21401. Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, August 18, 2025 at 11:00am.

A link to the Funeral Mass may be found at: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/hJXdLc9j-Ly5bk9C4.mp4

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Relief Services, P.O.‬ Box 5200, Harlan, IA 51593-0700.‬