Rodric Johnson

MILFORD - Rodric C. Johnson, 88, died following a long illness, March 4, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest Allentown, PA. He was born on March 2, 1937, at Cary Memorial Hospital in Caribou, the son of Carl P. and Arlene E. (Porter) Johnson.

Rodric's formative years were spent at Hilltop Acres in Woodland. His education journey began at the one-room Pratt School, where he graduated in 1950. He graduated from Caribou High School, Class of 1954, Hebron Academy in 1955 and the University of Maine at Orono, Class of 1959 where he also received his Master of Education degree in 1968.

Rodric began his teaching career in 1959 at Erskine Academy in South China, Maine, teaching chemistry, physics, earth science and math. He later moved to East Corinth Academy, rebuilt as Central High School in Corinth, in 1965. At the Academy, he taught science and became a coach and advisor to many organizations at the school, like School Spirit Leaders and the yearbook staff and was the coach for the boys' track and the girls' basketball teams. While he coached various teams, girls' basketball was a lifelong passion, for which he was also a season ticket holder and strong supporter of U of M Women's basketball.

His passions and hobbies included genealogy, local history, photography, and the great outdoors. Rodric's love of hiking, canoeing, and exploration made him an avid outdoorsman. From the 1960s through the 1990s, Rodric would escape to his cabin on Springy Pond, appropriately named Springwood Lodge. He would hike many trails of his acreage, The Hermitage, and return to his home, Idlewood, in Bradford. After Rod's relocation to his Milford home he spent many hours hiking throughout Sunkhaze Meadows and doing genealogy research at the Fogler Library on the U of M campus. Rod loved to frequent Pat's Pizza in Orono and listened to Red Sox games via radio.

Rodric is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Stephen.

Rodric is survived by his brother, Bruce H. Johnson, and his wife, Jean, of White Haven, PA; a nephew, David Johnson, and wife, Denelle (nephewette), of Red Bank, NJ; a niece, Lisa (Johnson) Decowski and husband, Eric, of Alapaha, GA; and a grandnephew, Alan Decowski.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 10 AM, Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Brewer Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 55 S. Main St., Brewer, followed by a funeral service at 11 AM. Pastor John Cheney will be officiating. Interment will be in Woodland Cemetery, Woodland. In lieu of flowers gifts in his memory to The Archives at the Caribou Public Library, 30 High Street, Caribou, Maine 04736 or BGEA Samaritan's Purse, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201-0001

Rodric's favorite scripture verses were from Psalm 121:1-2: "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth." This was referenced in his narrative "The Green Hills of Home".

Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.