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In Memoriam…Ted Johnson, professor of music
Theodore O. Johnson, Jr., professor of music at Michigan State University (MSU), died April 21, 2003. He was born in Elkhart, Indiana, on October 9, 1929.

Dr. Johnson joined the MSU faculty in 1964. During his tenure, he was professor and chair of music theory, taught literature, and was a member of the Beaumont String Quartet. He served as concertmaster and principal violinist for the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and as concertmaster for the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. He also served as choir director at Bethel Baptist Church in Lansing for fourteen years. He performed in numerous solo and chamber music concerts throughout the Midwest, Puerto Rico, and at the National Art Gallery in Washington D.C. He wrote two books, and worked as a review panelist for the Jacob K. Javits Publishers and the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy.

Dr. Johnson served on hundreds of doctoral guidance and master’s-degree examination committees, and was a member of the Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He retired from teaching at MSU after the fall semester in 2002, serving as a consultant, and was scheduled to fully retire in July 2003.

Prior to joining MSU, Dr. Johnson taught music theory and performed with the faculty string quartet at the University of Kansas for six years.

He received his B.M. and M.M. degrees from the University of Michigan, where he was awarded the Stanley Medal. After service with the United States Army in Korea, he returned to the University of Michigan, where he completed a DMA and received a Fulbright award for study in Munich, Germany, and a Rackham Graduate Fellowship.

Dr. Johnson is survived by his wife of thirty-five years, Carol A. Johnson; a daughter, Mrs. Karen A. Johnson (Todd) of Fort Wayne, Ind.; two sons, Dr. Steven T. Johnson and Mr. David A. Johnson of Kalamazoo; another daughter, Ms. Nancy I. Johnson of Reno, Nev.; two grandchildren, two sisters, and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, it was requested that contributions be made to the MSU School of Music in memory of Dr. Johnson.