Gregory Johnson – 50th Reunion Essay

Gregory Johnson

8206 Overhill Drive

Pomona, NY 10970

gj@aya.yale.edu

917-822-8008

Spouse(s): Claire Bardes Johnson (1975)

Child(ren): Fatimah (1976), Zahra (1978), Solomon (1982)

Grandchild(ren): Imogen Lyla Budick (2011)

Education: Columbia, Master of Architecture, 1977

National Service: Lt., US Navy, 1969–1974

Career: Project, Program and Portfolio Manager, Deputy Commissioner for Public Structures (City of New York), Director of Planning for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York, COO for several technology solutions consultancies, VP, Enterprise Solutions for global learning solutions provider, International Institute for Learning (IIL).

Avocations: Qigong

College: Pierson

Blagoslovi dushe moya gospoda—Bless the Lord oh my Soul!

I open with this because Yale for me was from beyond my dreams. I reveled in the company of wonderful people I had waited to meet all my life, some of whom are important collaborators, still. Yale was a great experience in too few years. My enthusiasm hooked my brother Fritz who followed me, graduating in the Class of ’74.

Yale Overlay on Life

Having auditioned in the fall of ’65, many best friends were in the Yale Russian Chorus, members of the Class of ’67 in particular. Rick was at Columbia for a stretch working on his PhD. Whenever I spoke to him, he invited me to drop by their apartment and spend a few days if I liked. So, as a naval officer, when the ship pulled into Naval Ammunition Depot Earle New Jersey, I would take a day or two of leave to visit Rick and Elizabeth. They have been lifelong friends, including our daughter babysitting their children, and I providing some tutoring support to their daughter. This circle included others from Yale, Stephen who was maybe Class of ’58 who worked in real estate, also who I had a few opportunities to travel with abroad. Stephen, God rest his soul, was kind and always thoughtful. When my family left Brooklyn, he offered us a house where we lived for a year. We remained close to Stephen and Sondra for 40 years and were among those who prayed over their graves when they left us, one by one, recently. Another lifelong Yale friend, Cole, was Class of ’65. A Texan with a great sense of humor, we met in NYC circles and chat virtually still on a weekly basis. Dr. Johanna Bauerle, a dermatologist who was Yale ’73, is close to my wife and has had a lot of influence on two of our three children because of her businesslike, outspoken yet friendly manner. Now, our son is writing applications to medical schools.

And on the alumni of the Yale Russian Chorus (YRC), which does include my brother Fritz, unbelievably there has been a 50th Anniversary Concert, a 60th Anniversary Concert and in fall of 2018 a 65th Anniversary Concert at Woolsey Hall in New Haven. All these have been presided over by YRC founder, Denis Mickiewicz, now hailing from Duke, who at the start brought together a small group of singers at Yale in 1953. From the beginning for me, singing in the chorus was a prayer. I often have sung in tears. And this glue from Denis has held a vibrant assortment of Yale lives together over the years since, our enjoying reunions from time to time, also including some participants from younger Yale generations. This Yale Russian Chorus, too, was from beyond my dreams.

Claire and I enjoy good health and close family. We cannot be thankful enough.