Ronald Johnson ’65

Ronald Johnson ’65, of Fairbanks, Alaska; Apr. 20. After earning his PhD from Cornell University, he began working at Avco on projects including missile defense and desalination of sea water. He was offered a faculty position at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In addition to teaching and research in air quality, water resources, and energy, he walked, skied or bicycled to work every day for 21 years. He chaired the mechanical engineering department, directed the UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power, and retired after 33 years. He served in advisory roles for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Aging at Home, and the Retired Public Employees Association and also participated in a weekly energy discussion group. While bicycling in 1997, he suffered a spinal cord injury, surviving it to become a role model and activist for sustainability and accessibility. He is survived by wife Carol Johnson, two daughters and sons-in-law, a grandson, and brother Larry Johnson ’69.