Executive associate registrar emeritus dies at 72

Thomas L.W. Johnson, executive associate registrar emeritus, died on Jan 1. He was 72.

After 44 years of service to the Office of the Registrar, Johnson, who was known to his colleagues as a “living historical archive,” retired in 2003.

Over the course of his career, Johnson won a reputation as an advocate for students. He helped create the “special student” registration status and was instrumental in establishing the university’s “compassionate refund” policy.

During the national crisis precipitated by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Johnson’s timely review of military-leave policy enabled students called up for military service to be ready to leave the university and the country within two days without financial or academic penalty.

“Tom was a very special man who touched many lives at the university and beyond,” says Joanne Berg, registrar and associate vice chancellor for enrollment management.