SR0793 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0793 LRB102 25806 LAW 35144 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of George Metcalfe Johnson, M.D. of Peoria, who passed away on January 6, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson was born to Catherine "Georgia" Smith Johnson and George R. Johnson in New Brunswick, New Jersey on March 24, 1951; he graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in 1973; he then graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill in 1977; he completed his pediatric residency at the University of Connecticut, where he also served as chief resident, and his infectious disease fellowship at the University of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson was a pediatric infectious disease specialist; he served as a pediatrician in the National Health Service Corps in Huntsville, Alabama; he held faculty appointments at the State University of New York, the University of Connecticut, and the Medical University of South Carolina, where he served as division director, residency program director, and vice chair of Education; he also held faculty positions with the Greenville Hospital System and, most recently, at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and OSF Children's Hospital; for over 42 years, he worked tirelessly for the children under his care, most notably during the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a frontline clinician and researcher; he was a gifted physician and diagnostician and contributed to over 150 publications and research articles; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson received many awards and distinctions throughout his career, including national recognition for his HIV research; he served on the Committee of the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Group (PACTG) in various capacities, including being elected to the executive committee and holding various leadership roles within PACTG; he was selected to America's Top Pediatricians by Consumers' Research Council of America and named to the Best Doctors of America; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson loved his wife, his family and friends, his patients, the Tar Heels, music, butterflies, and falling asleep five minutes into a movie; he adored his sons and stepson and was most proud of their generosity; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson was a generous, civic-minded and socially conscious humanitarian who always cared for and supported those around him; he will be remembered as a gentleman, a scholar, and a man who was thoughtful, kind, and sweet; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Colleen Otto Johnson; his sons, Derek (Jody), Ian, Matthew, Michael, and Scott; his brother, Alan Johnson (Lilly); his stepson, Dennison David (Ashley) Thomas; his granddaughter, Olivia Galloway Thomas; his brother-in-law, Daniel M. Otto; his treasured dog, Reilly; and a circle of extended family and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of George Metcalfe Johnson, M.D. and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Johnson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.