Gunnard Johnston

Profile Updated: June 24, 2015
Residing In: NH USA
Spouse/Partner: Satsuko
Occupation: Education and Sales
Children: One son, Seung-gunn David Johnston, born June 04, 1992
Military Service: Army  
Yes! Attending Reunion
Comments:

From the four-room Eliot School deep down in the Heights, next to what is now (for sixty years almost) Route 128/I-95, near Newton Upper Falls, to Stephen Palmer, to Pollard, and on to NHS sophomore year, Needham was my home. In July of 1963 my family moved from Needham up to Concord, NH, where I entered Concord High, and graduated with my class in 1965. Attended Dartmouth, but was not so interested in studies; Vietnam kept me in school, though, and I graduated a 2nd Lieutenant via Army ROTC. After a year of active duty, including jump wings via Ft. Benning, I did a 180 and asked for an early out, which was given after a drawn-out process.
After the service I did a number of different things from coast to coast for five years, and ended up meeting and joining the Unification Church -- Rev. Sun Myung Moon -- in 1975. Since then I've been all over the U.S. (all except the Dakotas and Montana), plus about twenty-five other countries.
I attended Unification Theological Seminary from 1977-79, graduating with a Masters in Religious Education. Worked on college campuses meeting students and faculty from Boston/Cambridge (Harvard) to New York (picketed Alger Hiss at Columbia) to Washington, DC, Geo Washington U., to California, Cal State , L.A.
Then in late 1980 I joined a fishing ministry, going down to St. Augustine, Florida, did shrimp dragging, then on to Miami and Key Vaca (Marathon). Did giant blue-fin tuna fishing out of Gloucester in 1981, and caught two: 879 pounds and 1027 lbs. Then (big) moved to the Washington Times newspaper, and worked out of New York city for two years, where I held conferences for NATO and also UN reps. Went out to do field work back in Boston, then down to Connecticut, Fairfield County.
Returned to NH in 1988 to head up the activities there. Did a summer of seminar programs for Soviet students in 1991 along with 100 other US folk; we had 8,000 students, parents, teachers, professors, and a number of KGB attend. Was in Moscow for the August 1991 putsch which saw Gorbachev held as hostage in the Crimea, but end on a good note, as many of our Soviet summer graduates actively opposed the putsch and called for reform; Soviet Union ended later that year. In 1996 I returned to and lived for 14 years in Lithuania with my family, as we expanded on our earlier foundation from the 1991-93 education projects.
In 2000 I brought a TV journalist from Lithuania to Korea, where we interviewed folks like former VP, Dan Quayle, former British Prime Minister, Edward Heath, and the former president of Zambia, as well as a Catholic arch-bishop, (Lech Walesa, former pres. of Poland was there, but unavailable for interview), at the occasion of Rev. Moon's 80th birthday. ... We are currently living in Seoul, Korea, where I mostly teach English. (Thank you, Miss Burke, where ever you are!!)

School Story:

Hockey, football, track and field. Syndicate Club. Hanging out with P. Carre, J. Feeley, Gary C., Tom C., K. Tracey, K. Turman, et. al..

Gunnard's Latest Interactions

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Gunnard Johnston has a birthday today.
Feb
27
Feb 27, 2024 at 4:33 AM
Gunnard Johnston has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
Apr 20, 2023 at 11:35 AM

 

God bless Rick.   May he ride the waves as much as he wants.

Gunnard Johnston posted a message. New comment added.
Mar 18, 2023 at 10:11 PM

Posted on: Mar 18, 2023 at 1:01 PM

Happy belated birthday, youngsta. :-) So, you rendezvoused at Tracey's and didn't tell me! Ouch! ... Are you still living on the Cape?

Gunnard Johnston posted a message. New comment added.
Mar 15, 2023 at 4:14 PM

Posted on: Mar 15, 2023 at 9:24 AM

Hey, Steve, long long time. Saw your remarks re Al Clifford where you mentioned Paul Lawrence. Regards to both you and Paul.

Gunnard Johnston has left an In Memory comment for Charles Jaffe.
Mar 01, 2023 at 12:36 PM

So, Tracey was essentially a screw-up, although reading his glorified version, you'd never know it.  laugh

I didn't know Chuch personally, but he sounds like somebody with dreams of a better world.

Gunnard Johnston has a birthday today.
Feb 27, 2023 at 4:33 AM
Gunnard Johnston has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
Feb 18, 2023 at 3:57 PM

A kind heart is never forgotten.   I didn't know Al personally.   He seems to have touched many other people, however.   God bless Al and his family.

Gunnard Johnston

Gunnard Johnston has left an In Memory comment for Nancy Lyons Milliken.
Sep 19, 2022 at 12:05 PM

All the very best for Nancy and all of us.   Time waits for no one.   We each have a day waiting for us to make the transition from this earthly world to our final eternal home.   Let's make the best of whatever time we have left.

Gunnard Johnston posted a message. New comment added.
Mar 16, 2022 at 11:12 PM

Posted on: Mar 15, 2022 at 12:51 PM

Pound for pound, the best middle linebacker I've ever seen! Welcome to the "75" club!

Gunnard Johnston has a birthday today.
Feb 27, 2022 at 4:33 AM
Jul 24, 2021 at 1:00 PM

My warm and hopeful thoughts are with you and Jay. All the best going forward.

Gunnard Johnston has a birthday today.
Feb 27, 2021 at 4:33 AM
Aug 09, 2020 at 11:32 AM

Be strong. God loves you and all your family forever.

Gunnard Johnston added a comment on his Profile.
Mar 10, 2020 at 5:13 PM
Gunnard Johnston has a birthday today.
Feb 27, 2020 at 4:37 AM
Gunnard Johnston has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
Feb 04, 2020 at 12:33 PM

One of a kind.  Bull-headed.   Never change his mind.   When I think of Jeff, Frank Sinatra's "I did it my way" comes to mind.   Rest in peace, brother.   Going to miss you on this plane, but sure to see you in the future.  God bless Jeff and Martha and all their family.

Gunnard Johnston has a birthday today.
Feb 27, 2019 at 4:33 AM
Gunnard Johnston has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
Feb 07, 2019 at 8:33 PM

Our prayers and support for you and your family at this time of transition.   Let us remember the joy and love you shared.  It is forever.

Gunnard Johnston has left an In Memory comment for Mary Fucci Mitchell.
May 18, 2018 at 12:33 PM

I remember Mary's amazing eyes.   Like looking into a clear, deep, very peaceful but full of life, light blue ocean.  I also attended the Elliot School from kindergarten through half-way third 3rd grade, whereupon my family moved from Carter Road to 743 Webster Street, near May Street.   I believe that's when I first saw Mary and her deep blue eyes, which always kind of mesmerized me, then later when we were reunited at Pollard.  God bless Mary.

Mar 07, 2018 at 11:29 AM

May God bless Janet for her love and giving to others.