St. Charles teacher who overcame tragedy remembered for compassion

Connie Johnson's adventurous spirit was rallying again after months of grieving for her husband, Bill.

"You know, people have to have fun in life, don't they?" the St. Charles schoolteacher remarked to a friend in July, just before leaving for Kentucky with her mother to visit their extended family.

The trip was perfect. Johnson played CDs and raised her soprano voice in song on the road to pass the time. But on Aug. 1 for the second time in two years, Johnson's two daughters faced the unthinkable news that a parent had perished in a traffic accident.

While out on a motorcycle ride with a cousin, the Harley Davidson driven by Roy Hood with Johnson as passenger left the roadway, hit a ditch and overturned in Nelson County in central Kentucky. The impact killed Hood while Johnson, 57, died later in a hospital.

Now friends, family and colleagues are remembering Johnson's warmth, compassion and love of teaching.

"She touched so many lives," said Michael Backer, principal at St. Charles District 303's Davis Elementary School, where Johnson taught for more than three decades, most recently in second grade.

Not only are current pupils and colleagues devastated, but former students now grown are in shock, Backer said. "She was the type of teacher who was really concerned about the social and emotional well-being of children."

Johnson was a pianist and singer who belonged to local church choirs in her hometown of Sycamore and also taught music. "She incorporated music into everything," daughter Mary Johnson said, recalling her mom's occasional tendency to burst out in song with melodies ranging from classical to Rogers and Hammerstein.

"She was able to balance work and career and family, and I really respect her for that."

Johnson's life was full of friends but her greatest was husband Richard - or Bill as he was known. "They were incredibly close," Mary said.

Bill Johnson died in May 2008 when a gravel truck crashed into his vehicle in Barrington Hills.

"The suddenness almost crushed her," former neighbor and friend Lynn Knepper said. "But she kept on doing the things she had to do. She didn't give up."

And after months of sorrow, recently, Connie "had started to show signs she was able to experience some fun and joy again although she was still grieving," Knepper said.

Another blow was waiting for Johnson last month, when her constant companion and dog, Lady, died. "That was another part of her life gone," Knepper said.

But Johnson took solace in her Kentucky trip with her mother and also in a future visit to Mary in California.

"I could see her adventurous spirit returning," Mary said.

District 303 speech therapist Gail Simpson started her career with Johnson at Davis Elementary 32 years ago where Connie presided over fourth-, fifth- and second-grade classes.

"If we had a student who was especially sensitive and needed a special, caring place, they would go into her class," Simpson said.

Backer recalled walking into Johnson's room and hearing her improvising melodies for limericks along with her pupils.

"She was the type of teacher who went beyond the regular," he said.

Retired second-grade teacher Pam Marck taught for more than 30 years with Johnson. Johnson called her a "little sister."

Johnson visited Marck shortly before her Kentucky vacation. "She was slowly starting to smile more," she said. "The strain on her face was gone."

Nelson County sheriff's police are still investigating the accident. Helmets were not worn, officials said.

Counseling will be offered at Davis Elementary during a Wednesday Welcome Back to School event. Pupils and parents can also jot down memories in commemorative books, Backer said.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Anderson Funeral Home in DeKalb. Information should be available early in the week at andersonfuneralhomeltd.com.