Walter Irving

Johnson

Walter Irving Johnson II

September 14th, 1915 ~ February 28th, 2017

W alter Irvin Johnson II, 101, of Teaneck, passed away peacefully on Tuesday afternoon, February 28th, 2017 at the home of his son. On September 14th, 1915, Walter Irvin Johnson, Jr. was born the third child of five children to Walter Irvin Johnson and Helen Viola Lee Johnson in Atlantic City. He attended public schools there, and in 1933 graduated with honors among 463 seniors from Atlantic City High School. Attending Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in psychology and a minor in English. Matriculating at Howard University in Washington, D.C., he earned his Master of Science degree in 1941. Subsequent advanced studies in Psychology were completed at Manhattan's New School of Social Research and at New York University.

With degree in hand and with America on the eve of a World War, Walter responded to the government's active recruitment of psychologists, who upon enlisting in the armed services, were guaranteed appointments as 2nd Lieutenants after basic training. He found out, however, that although he had all the right credentials, he was the wrong color. There were other ways one could assist in the war effort. Walter became an electric-arc welder for the Dravo Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, Delaware, which was engaged in defense work for the Federal Government. This company was actually capable of constructing one P.T. ( Patrol Torpedo ) boat each and every day. These were the boats that landed on enemy shorelines during World War II and that were so critical to allied victory.

During and immediately after the war, Walter held a number of other positions. These included: Professor of Psychology in Barber-Scotia College in North Carolina and Professor of Psychology and Philosophy at West Virginia State College. He can never forget one of his students at West Virginia State, Gloria Lorraine White of New York City - for it would be three years later in New York when he would again have occasion to meet this former student. They married in June 1954 and were blessed with two children, Deborah Lorraine and Walter Irvin Johnson I II.

In 1946, however, Walter began his first stint at what would be his most satisfying employment at the Wiltwyck School for boys near Hyde Park, N.Y. He served there for eight years as senior counselor, leaving for two years to assume a position as assistant and then director of Boys at Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Children's Center, a temporary placement center for New York's dependent and neglected children. He returned to Wiltwyck as its resident director in 1954, a position he held until 1959. Wiltwyck was an interracial psychiatric treatment center for 100 emotionally disturbed New York City boys between the ages of eight and 12, and was one of only seven such centers located throughout the country.

In 1946, however, Walter began his first stint at what would be his most satisfying employment at the Wiltwyck School for boys near Hyde Park, N.Y. He served there for eight years as senior counselor, leaving for two years to assume a position as assistant and then director of Boys at Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Children's Center, a temporary placement center for New York's dependent and neglected children. He returned to Wiltwyck as its resident director in 1954, a position he held until 1959. Wiltwyck was an interracial psychiatric treatment center for 100 emotionally disturbed New York City boys between the ages of eight and 12, and was one of only seven such centers located throughout the country.

Wiltwyck's proximity to Hyde Park, the home of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor, made it a prime object of attention for many influential people. Mrs. Roosevelt was a trustee and a most active supporter of Wiltwyck, and would visit the school almost weekly when not abroad. Other important visitors during Walter's term as director included Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, Josh White and Harry Belafonte. Mrs. Roosevelt often invited Walter and the Wiltwyck youngsters to her estate at Hyde Park for visits during the summer as well as during the Christmas holidays.

Two young residents at that time would go on to become famous in their own right. Floyd Paterson would become the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Claude Brown would eventually author the acclaimed novel, "Manchild in the Promised Land." In his written autobiography, Floyd credits Walter Johnson as the person who first put boxing gloves on his hands in an attempt to get him interested in some form of gym activity.

When Walter decided to leave Wiltwyck in 1959, he and his family relocated to the Bronx in New York City. In 1961, the family moved to Teaneck and Walter accepted a position of Manhattan Assistant Administrator of New York's Youth Services Agency after holding directorships of Brooklyn's Friendly House and Manhattan's Joan of Arc Center. He continued to hold several administrative positions in the Youth Division under Mayors Lindsay, Beame and Koch before retiring from city service in 1985.

From December 2014 until his death, Walter lived with his son and daughter-in-law, Felicia Johnson, who both lovingly and graciously cared for him at their home in Middletown, N.Y. They sang hymns with him, prayed over him, took him to church, and prepared nutritious meals for him that helped to restore his health. He learned to enjoy whole grain bread and rice (and beans), in addition to his five scoops of ice-cream. They shared many laughs and special moments together.

Included among his greatest interests and activities were Voluntary Psychological Testing for the NYC Bureau of Child Guidance. He was a Member, Board of Trustees of the Interreligious Fellowship for the Homeless of Bergen County. Co-Chairman, Pain and Suffering Committee and Member of the Commission on Christian Social concerns of Englewood, Hackensack and Teaneck, New Jersey (An Agency of the first Baptist Church of Englewood) Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in which he has been a member for over sixty~five years, having joined the Beta Chapter at Lincoln University in 1936. He served this undergraduate Chapter as Vice Basileus and Basileus (1937-1939). Upon graduating, he became one of the founders of the Upsilon Alpha chapter in Atlantic City, serving as keeper of Records and Seal until leaving for Howard. Joining the Nu Beta Beta chapter in Teaneck, he served as Historian and more than eight committees over the years, receiving awards from both graduate chapters.

Walter Irving Johnson II leaves to cherish his memories his son Walter Irvin Johnson III and his wife Felicia (nee Alston) of Middletown, N.Y., and daughter, Lorraine Johnson of Washington, D.C.; beloved grandchildren, Joel Johnson and wife Charlynn of Benton Harbor, Mich.; Clarence "Matt" Johnson and wife Emily of Teaneck; and Marie and Krystal Johnson of Middletown, N.Y.; numerous nieces, nephews, and loyal friends (who are extended family) who all mourn his passing.

Walter is predeceased by his wife Gloria (2007) and siblings, Helen, Arnold, Peggy and June.