E. Eric “Ric” Johnson, 86, of Pacific Palisades passed away Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, at his home with his loving bride of 64 years, Elizabeth, and children at his side.
Ric was born Feb. 7, 1927, to Edwin Eric Johnson and Senja Waisanen in Chicago, Ill. In 1942, his family moved to Palo Alto, Calif.
After joining the V-12 Naval Officer Candidate Program, Ric attended USC and the California Institute of Technology before making his father’s dream for him a reality by enrolling at Stanford University in 1946. At Stanford, Ric majored in Economics and married the love of his life, a vivacious and attractive music major, Elizabeth “Liz” Brass.
Upon graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1948, Ric entered Stanford Law School, started a family, and subsequently spent five years at Equitable Life as a pension consultant before moving to Los Angeles in 1956 where he spent another four years as a Southern California regional group manager.
Ric joined Johnson & Higgins in 1960, as an employee benefits consultant, was elected Vice President in 1962, Employee Benefits Department Manager in 1965 and partner in 1968, joining J&H’s Board of Directors as an Executive Vice President and co-managing the Los Angeles office for 18 years.
Ric’s leadership helped Los Angeles become J&H’s largest branch office and earned him the reputation of being one of the firm’s most innovative directors. The Middle Market Department, the Account Management System and the Associates Program were just several of his concepts that blossomed into national programs. During Ric’s final three years at J&H as corporate executive vice president, he was responsible for about one-third of J&H’s corporate operations throughout the country.
Following Ric’s retirement from J&H in 1987, the next 20 years in business found him executing on one of his favorite sayings: “Work at something you love to do, and do it with people you love to do it with.” TBG Financial founders, Mike Shute and Don Tippett, recruited Ric to join them as their Chairman. Ric’s contacts, network and business development acumen served TBG well, and the firm was eventually sold, marking a final milestone in Ric’s almost 60 years in the insurance industry.
Above all, Ric’s life was characterized by his love of family. Together with his wife, Liz, a Johnson family core value of the importance of “shared experiences” produced a lifetime of trips, celebrations and outings with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ric shared his love of Stanford with his family; his mother-in-law attended Stanford as did both of his children and two grandchildren. The fact that Ric’s descendants played on a combined five Stanford NCAA championship teams was a source of pride and joy to him.
Ric was a tireless volunteer and supporter of KCET, UCLA Medical Center, Stanford University, Stanford’s Law, Graduate School of Business and Athletic Department. His love of contemporary art, travel, jazz and golf blended beautifully with his love of people.
Ric is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his daughter, Christal and husband Dale Neal of Pacific Palisades; his son, Craig and wife Nikki Johnson of Woodside, California; five grandchildren, Tyler and wife Brooke Neal, Sarah and husband Andrew Neal Kline, Barrett, Jordan and Madeline Johnson; and six great-grandchildren, Emerson, Griffin and Sawyer Neal and Charles Eric, Avery and Taylor Kline. He was predeceased by his brother Guy; his parents and dashing brothers-in-law, Fred and Jim Brass.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at St. Matthew’s Parish in Pacific Palisades at 2 p.m.
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