Father William “Bill” Johnson, a native of southern California who came to the East Bay area to serve as a pastor and hospital chaplain, died Dec. 17, 2024. He was 77.
Born on July 3, 1947, in Alhambra and raised in southern California, Father Johnson was preceded in death by his parents Beatrice and William Johnson and is survived by his brother John Quinn, Sr. (Bing), sister Nolene (Mickey) Frederiksen (Dick), brother Dale Johnson (Alma) and sister Kathy Calvano as well as his seven nieces and nephews.
Father Johnson attended Don Bosco High School in San Gabriel, which was where he returned to teach mathematics as a young man. He also taught at Loyola High School in Los Angeles and won the respect and admiration of many of his students for his ability to teach math with ease and support the academic and spiritual growth of his students. He remained friends with many of his former students throughout his life.
Although he briefly entered both the Salesian and Jesuit orders, he ultimately determined the charism of a diocesan priest was his true vocation. He was ordained to the priesthood on April 9, 1983, in the Diocese of Oakland. His ministry included being parochial vicar of St. Perpetua Parish in Lafayette 1983-1986, parochial vicar of St. Anthony in Oakland 1983-1990, parochial vicar of St. John the Baptist Parish in San Lorenzo 1990-1991, and parochial administrator of St. Augustine Parish in Oakland 1992-1997.
In 1999 Father Johnson began his hospital ministry, serving as chaplain at several hospitals in the East Bay from 1999 until his retirement in 2017. It was in this final ministry that Father Johnson felt especially called to serve those who needed to feel the presence of God through a compassionate listening ear, gentle counsel and sacramental healing. These years brought him joy and fulfillment, and he touched many lives through his work as a hospital chaplain, even while he remained active in parish ministry at St. Peter Martyr in Pittsburg and Queen of All Saints in Concord.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 27, 10:30 am at Christ the King Church, 199 Brandon Road in Pleasant Hill. Burial will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.