Mike Johnson (7/31/2016)

We are saddened to announce that we lost one of our senior CERT Members last Sunday morning. Mike Johnson passed at home about 2 weeks after receiving double bypass surgery.

Mike was one of our more active members even though he turned 90 on July 2nd. We thought of him as 50 with 40 years of experience since he set the pace when it came to work and getting projects done for our team! Mike was a veteran of World War II who served in the Philippines. After the war, Mike played baseball for the well known "Hamden Plainsmen" and was inducted into the Southern Connecticut Diamond Club's 2014 Hall of Fame. Mike was also active with the Hamden Veterans Commission acting as a Commissioner and was chosen the Grand Marshal for the Memorial Day Parade in 2014.

Mike was also one of the key members in the starting of the State Street Cemetery Group, helping to clean up the cemetery after many years of abandonment. It was not unusual for Mike and his wife Rita to make numerous trips each week from the cemetery bringing brush and trash to the town dump and helping to make the cemetery more adequate for the many veterans who are buried there.

Mike and his family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers forever because of his many projects and additions he created for our Hamden CERT vehicle. He was instrumental in making small repairs to the interior and always adding the small appliance holders and equipment brackets, key racks, and any other needed additions. One great example of what this man was about is that he converted his homemade house trailer into a Shelter Equipment Trailer and donated it to the Town and his team. This is a major loss for our CERT family and the many acquaintances that Mike has made over the years. Mike will always be remembered and we will continue to share with us the drive and determination to serve our community and be kind to our fellow man along with all of the traits that Mike instilled in us.

"Thank you Uncle Mike, Rest in Peace Brother, you will be missed by many!"