Thomas L. Johnson

Tom Johnson passed away on June 8, 2020 at home in the warm embrace of his wife, Victoria, and surrounded by his four children, just as he wanted it.

Tom spent his formative years on a farm in northern Minnesota. Life on a farm is never easy, Tom always said, especially when there isn’t any top soil or growing season.  Tom carried his farm boy experience with him for the rest of his life, never quite able to figure out how it launched a life filled with such happiness and joy.  Maybe it was Tom learning early on to be grateful for the things you have, to help those who have less, and to meet life’s challenges with an optimistic spirit.

After graduating from Duluth Central High School, Tom obtained a Bachelor of Physics degree and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.  Later on, thanks to a Bush Fellowship, he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from the London School of Economics.

Tom didn’t believe in straight-line careers, at least for himself.  He started out as a patent attorney, but that quickly gave way to a long run in politics, including sixteen years in elective office.  In 1973, when Tom was first elected to the Minneapolis City Council at the age of twenty-eight, he said he walked around thinking “if the public only knew how little I know.”  He soon learned enough to author ordinances reforming the City’s liquor laws, implementing truth-in-housing inspections, requiring disclosure of campaign contributions, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and banning the sale of plastic milk cartons (a ban that lasted for only a few months, unfortunately).

Tom then went on to serve as Hennepin County Attorney for twelve years, enjoying every moment.  Assisted by a talented group of lawyers and support staff, Tom was able to initiate many reforms, including major advances in child abuse investigations and prosecutions, child support enforcement, the civil commitment process and juvenile justice. Tom was most grateful for his role in founding CornerHouse and the creation of a job-share program that brought sixteen dedicated women lawyers into an office where there were few.  The county attorney’s office brought more than professional accomplishments.  It was where Tom met his wife-to-be, Victoria Newcome.  Waiting until she was leaving the office for private practice (literally true), Tom approached Victoria at her going away party and asked her if she would allow him to conduct an exit interview, over lunch of course.  (Tom always thought this was a pretty good line for a farm kid.) Victoria agreed, and it was the start of a loving relationship that deepened continuously throughout their thirty-seven years of marriage.

Family was all-important to Tom.  He left politics to spend more time with his family, and he did.  He loved helping with homework, going on camping trips, being on the side of a soccer field regardless of weather conditions and, as his children and grandchildren became adults, spending long hours talking to them about their careers and life generally.  Tom married Victoria because she was beautiful and laughed occasionally at his lame jokes.  But he soon found her to be caring, intelligent and constantly challenging his thinking.  Tom always believed that, while his marriage to Victoria may not have been made in heaven, it was his best chance of getting there.

For many years after leaving the county attorney’s office, Tom practiced law with the Gray Plant Mooty law firm.  Tom was fond of saying, “it’s a great firm and they’ve been mighty kind to me.”  Tom particularly appreciated the firm allowing him to take a ten-year sabbatical to head up the Council on Crime and Justice.  While there, CCJ took on many cutting- edge issues.  None gave Tom more satisfaction than calling attention to the unacceptable racial disparities in the justice system and their cost to society.  Until shortly before his death, Tom served as the volunteer Ombudsman for Clerical Sexual Abuse for the Archdiocese of St. Paul Minneapolis and as a founder and active board member of the Minnesota Justice Research Center.  Over the course of his career, Tom served on many non-profit boards and received countless awards and recognitions. Throughout his life, Tom’s material needs were mostly satisfied by buying books (non-fiction) and replacing his running shoes.  Tom lived for nearly six years with Stage IV cancer, constantly telling his family and friends that, because his heart was so filled with gratitude and joy, they were the best years of his life.

He is survived by his wife, Victoria Newcome Johnson; his children, Jill (Brian) Steigauf, Ben (Amanda King), Hunter and Kayla (James) Castaneda; grandchildren Brady, Brooke and Baylee Steigauf, and Lydia King-Johnson; brothers Jerry (Jeanette) and Warren (Carol) Johnson and sister Susan (Robert) Henderson; Jill’s mother Eve Blackwell; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, and brother Bob (Joy).

Due to the pandemic, the service will be attended by immediate family and live-streamed Saturday, June 13, 10 AM at https://lourdesmpls.org/lourdes-live . Archbishop Bernard Hebda will celebrate the Mass. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the MNJRC at mnjrc.org/support-mnjrc .

An article in the Star Tribune about Tom: https://www.startribune.com/former-hennepin-county-attorney-tom-johnson-dies/571145092/

Below are the links of Thomas Johnson's service:

The service begins eleven minutes into the Full Service Video.

Full Service: https://vimeo.com/428992065/7261f6c79d

Homily: https://vimeo.com/428992799/f2b0f073e1

Eulogy: https://vimeo.com/428993032/bd7d8e8620