George Dennis Johnson

Dennis Johnson of Colesville, MD died peacefully on September 5, 2022, surrounded by his family. Dennis was born December 27, 1940, in Washington, DC, and raised by his parents the late George Otis and Evelyn Jeannette Norris Johnson in Seat Pleasant, MD.

Before graduating from the University of Maryland, 1968 (history), Dennis served in a U.S. Army Band, worked for Coca-Cola, and became a mailman.  For 27 years, he was a Buildings Manager for the General Services Administration.  Dennis was a talented, largely self-taught jazz musician who played saxophone, clarinet, and flute in local bands including Difficult Run, Capitol Express, Greenbelt Community Band, and Olney Big Band. In recent years, he enjoyed playing in the Night and Day band at Hollywood East on the first Friday of each month. He loved board games, major league baseball, the Civil War, APBA baseball cards, reading history and science fiction.

Dennis is survived by Faye, his loving wife of 60 years, son Michael, daughters Bonnie (granddaughters Evelyn, Vivian, Dorothy), Elizabeth, and siblings Fred and Dale. Friends are invited to celebrate his life on Saturday September 17, 1 p.m. at Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksville, P.A., 12540 Clarksville Pike, Clarksville, Maryland. Contributions may be made in his honor to the Jazz Foundation of America. The Memorial Service on Saturday September 17th will be followed by a reception at the funeral home.