EDWARD ESREY JOHNSON

Edward Esrey Johnson, resident of Ormond Beach, FL since 1963, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family, on May 30, 2026, at the age of 92. Born on October 30, 1933, in Trenton, NJ. He was the son of the late Meredith E. and Elizabeth (Arnold) Johnson and brother to the late Arnold Whelan Johnson and beloved husband for 64 years to the late Patricia (Gordon) Johnson.

Ed was educated at the The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, where he excelled academically and athletically, and later at Wesleyan University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics in 1956. Immediately following graduation, he served in the United States Army as a mathematician, with assignments at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and later at the U.S. Army General Depot in Landes de Bussac, France.

His professional career spanned several decades and reflected early involvement in the emerging field of computing. He conducted deep-sea oceanographic research for Columbia University Lamonte Geological Observatory, worked in data reduction and early computer programming at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, and later joined General Electric to support Atlas radar analysis and the Apollo spacecraft program. In Daytona Beach, he served as software manager for GE’s Apollo operations.

Ed went on to help establish the Computer Science Department at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University and developed the institution’s first administrative and academic computing systems. He later implemented computing systems for EmbryRiddle’s offcampus centers and also taught computing at Stetson University. After retiring, he became deeply involved in the family business, The Greene Company of Greene, RI, serving as its president for more than twenty years. During that time, he helped ensure the preservation of the land and the continuation of the family’s cranberry operations.

Outside his professional life, Mr. Johnson was an accomplished sailor spending many summers exploring the Bahamas with his family aboard his ketch Morena, and enjoyed competitive sailing with close friends. Never one to slow down, Ed began his antique car racing career at age 75, driving his beloved cars, #3 and #97, with remarkable skill and enthusiasm well into his eighties. He was a proud and active member of the Halifax River Yacht Club and DAARA of Daytona Beach, and the ACOT Vintage Auto Racing Club of New England.

Mr. Johnson is survived by his 3 daughters: Dawn Lockwood of Greene, RI; Faith Underwood of Ormond Beach, FL; and Jennifer JohnsonBlouin of Quebec City, QC, Canada and their husbands Peter Lockwood, Glenn Underwood and Frédéric Blouin; as well as his five grandchildren: Thomas Lockwood of Hollola, Finland; Ryan Underwood of Vancouver, BC; Ariel Blouin of Quebec City, QC; Logan Underwood of Rumford, RI; and Mead Lockwood of Cambridge, MA and his three great-grandchildren: Jonas Lockwood, Oscar Lockwood, and Theo Underwood. He will be remembered above all for his devotion to his family and the enduring legacy he entrusted to the generations who follow him.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to honor Mr. Johnson’s memory to consider a donation to organizations that reflect his lifelong passions of sailing and the preservation of old mills:

-The Halifax Sailing Association of Daytona Beach, which fosters the love of sailing he carried throughout his life,

- Ledyard Sawmill in Ledyard, CT, a historic site dedicated to preserving the craftsmanship and heritage he deeply valued. Donations can be made out to the Ledyard Up-Down Sawmill, Mailing address: Ledyard Historic District Commission, Ledyard Town Hall, 741 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard CT 06339

The family will be welcoming friends and family at the Card Room of the Ormond Heritage Condominium between 3-5 pm on Wednesday June 3rd to celebrate Ed’s life. A burial service will be held in Greene, RI on June 14th at the Hopkins Hollow Church 3PM.

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