1/3/1949- 2/27/2024
Lynn Johnson was an intrepid spiritual seeker and activist, known for her loving spirit, gracious presence, a deep concern for Mother Earth, and dedication to her local and world-wide communities. She was the daughter of Ben and Lelia Johnson, and older sister of Mary Keith Brown. Her family moved around quite a bit when she was growing up because of her father’s job, but since they were originally from Louisville, and ultimately ended up there, she preferred to say she was from Kentucky.
She was the beloved mother of Lara Tritton O’Neil and adoring grandmother of Anna Lindsay O’Neil, Lillian Lee O’Neil, and Ava Louise O’Neil.
She graduated from Huntington High School, in Huntington, West Virginia in 1967. She studied theater at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1967 to 1969 and was married to Tom Tritton from 1969 to 1974. She lived in New Haven, CT in the 70’s and early 80’s and studied Art Therapy and Counseling at Southern Connecticut State University where she earned an MS in Counseling Psychology in 1981. She also studied at Yale Divinity School in 1991. She was married to Bruce Martin from 1995 to 2000 and moved to West Hartford, CT where she lived for the rest of her life.
As a skilled pastoral counselor and creative arts therapist, Lynn helped countless individuals over the years, through individual and group therapy sessions, as well as through the addiction counseling classes that she taught at Saint Joseph College (now the University of Saint Joseph). Much of her good work was accomplished through the nonprofit Center for Serenity in West Hartford, CT, which she founded and directed for twenty years. She was also the author of “Holy Adventure” at Barclay Press.
For many years, Lynn was an active member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). She was clerk of New Haven Friends Meeting, as well as clerk of Connecticut Valley Quarterly Meeting. Later, at Hartford Monthly Meeting, Lynn had a profound impact on the religious education program for many years. With her leadership, First Day School raised money for Knox Inc. and planted trees, vegetables, and flowers on the Meetinghouse grounds. She organized children and families to participate in the Walk Against Hunger as the Friends for Food team, gather supplies for the Hands on Hartford Backpack Nutrition Program, and Trick or Treat for UNICEF. She oversaw the Christmas pageant and Easter celebration each year, involving Friends of all ages in the preparations.
In the late 1980’s, she journeyed to Guatelmala to attend an international Friends Conference on the Message of Quakers for the World, arranged by Evangelical Friends International Alliance. Also in the late 1980’s, Lynn and her husband, Bruce Martin, toured the Soviet Union, during its glastnost (openness) period as informal Quaker peace ambassadors. She ran the Children’s Campaign for Nuclear Disarment in New Haven. And helped with a Youth Peace Conference in Sweden in 1984. She pioneered a city sister project with New Haven and Leon, and brought a youth group to Nicaragua in 1986.
Lynn subsequently transitioned into tireless volunteer efforts promoting environmental healing; working on the board of the Interreligious Eco Justice Network (IREJN), chairing the Green Committee of the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association (AHNA), and striving with others to transform her area of the city of Hartford into a garden- and tree-filled community. She wrote the monthly “Earthkeepers Corner” for IREJN’s churches, synagogues and mosques, and served as the Program Director of the Environmental Action Committee of Hartford’s Immanuel Congregational Church (Lynn’s second spiritual home in the Hartford Region.) There she advised the “Eco Kids”, middle and high school youth in their efforts to save the Earth; all while maintaining her commitment to Hartford Meeting’s Carbon Tax Witness group.
Lynn had an amazing life and legacy. Anyone who knew Lynn can attest to her amazingness, strength, courage, and tenacity. Don't let that little old lady with grey hair in a wheelchair fool you, she was a phenom of her own, a fierce protector of the earth and all sentient beings with a deep and passionate dedication to her mission and to God and Spirit. She lived as she wanted to the end, despite many decades of battling MS.
As Lynn’s MS progressed, increasingly limiting her mobility, she maintained all of these commitments, and more, without complaint; only requesting our prayers as her conditions worsened. She insisted that she not go to the hospital or a nursing home, and blessedly, as she wished, she died at home, supported by her loving caregivers and surrounded by loved ones. Lynn’s “Light” continues to shine in all those she touched throughout her life.
“Love is the Answer!”- was her motto
A Memorial Service to celebrate her amazing life will be held on May 18th at 2pm at Hartford Friends Meeting, 144 S Quaker Ln, West Hartford, CT.
If anyone feels moved to speak, he or she may stand up and do so during the quiet service. Worshipers may offer brief memories, songs, readings, or any other expression of feeling. Together, as a community, Quakers share their love for the person who has died and in doing so provide comfort to those who mourn. A reception downstairs will follow the service.
Donations may be made to Hartford Monthly Meeting (Quakers)