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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of George Metcalfe Johnson, M.D. of
4Peoria, who passed away on January 6, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson was born to Catherine "Georgia" Smith
6Johnson and George R. Johnson in New Brunswick, New Jersey on
7March 24, 1951; he graduated from Hope College in Holland,
8Michigan in 1973; he then graduated from the University of
9North Carolina School of Medicine at Chapel Hill in 1977; he
10completed his pediatric residency at the University of
11Connecticut, where he also served as chief resident, and his
12infectious disease fellowship at the University of Minnesota;
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson was a pediatric infectious disease
15specialist; he served as a pediatrician in the National Health
16Service Corps in Huntsville, Alabama; he held faculty
17appointments at the State University of New York, the
18University of Connecticut, and the Medical University of South
19Carolina, where he served as division director, residency
20program director, and vice chair of Education; he also held
21faculty positions with the Greenville Hospital System and,
22most recently, at the University of Illinois College of
23Medicine at Peoria and OSF Children's Hospital; for over 42

 

 

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1years, he worked tirelessly for the children under his care,
2most notably during the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a frontline
3clinician and researcher; he was a gifted physician and
4diagnostician and contributed to over 150 publications and
5research articles; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson received many awards and distinctions
7throughout his career, including national recognition for his
8HIV research; he served on the Committee of the Pediatric AIDS
9Clinical Trial Group (PACTG) in various capacities, including
10being elected to the executive committee and holding various
11leadership roles within PACTG; he was selected to America's
12Top Pediatricians by Consumers' Research Council of America
13and named to the Best Doctors of America; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson loved his wife, his family and
15friends, his patients, the Tar Heels, music, butterflies, and
16falling asleep five minutes into a movie; he adored his sons
17and stepson and was most proud of their generosity; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson was a generous, civic-minded and
19socially conscious humanitarian who always cared for and
20supported those around him; he will be remembered as a
21gentleman, a scholar, and a man who was thoughtful, kind, and
22sweet; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Colleen Otto
2Johnson; his sons, Derek (Jody), Ian, Matthew, Michael, and
3Scott; his brother, Alan Johnson (Lilly); his stepson,
4Dennison David (Ashley) Thomas; his granddaughter, Olivia
5Galloway Thomas; his brother-in-law, Daniel M. Otto; his
6treasured dog, Reilly; and a circle of extended family and
7friends; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
10George Metcalfe Johnson, M.D. and extend our sincere
11condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
12him; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of Dr. Johnson as an expression of our
15deepest sympathy.