Ted Johnsen, a longtime Palisadian and law professor, died on January 12 after a brave fight against pancreatic cancer. He was 60. Born on March 4, 1943 in Evanston, Illinois, Johnsen grew up in Winnetka, Illinois, Albuquerque and La Jolla before moving to Los Angeles to attend UCLA in 1961. After graduating from UCLA Law School in 1968, he taught for one year at the University of Michigan Law School, then began practicing corporate and securities law with the Los Angeles firm of O’Melveny & Meyers. In 1976, he became one of the founding partners of Johnsen, Manfredi & Thorpe, which later merged with Perkins Coie. In 1992, Johnsen joined the Los Angeles office of Arnold & Porter, from which he retired in 1999. After his retirement, he indulged his love of the law by teaching at USC Law School, as well as by working on several consulting and mediation projects. Johnsen met his wife, Cindy, at UCLA and they were married in 1966. They had two sons, Mike and Andy, and made their home in Pacific Palisades in 1971. Ted had a curious mind and eclectic interests. One of his greatest passions was reading and book collecting, a hobby he pursued from his childhood until his final days. He had an extensive collection of P.G. Wodehouse and a few first editions by Mark Twain. He was also an avid fly fisherman, and although he made many fishing trips throughout his life, his fondest affection was reserved for the Owens River in California’s eastern Sierra. Johnsen is survived by his wife and two sons, his granddaughter Elizabeth, his grandson Eric, and his brother Robert. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 at United Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to PANCAN, 2221 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 131, El Segundo, CA 90245, or to VITAS Hospice Foundation, 16030 Ventura Blvd. Suite 600, Encino, CA 91436.
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