Comments on: Charles Johnson: 1945-2009

By: Bretton

Bretton — Thu, 13 May 2010 19:57:59 +0000

Ah, Chuck. This world is far better for your life and the way you lived it. My own life especially. Thank you.

Truly ‘oo-ly.’

I’m sad to learn so late of your passing.

By: John Heaton

John Heaton — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:34:28 +0000

I am trembling at the knowledge Dr. Johnson has passed. To say he was my favorite professor falls far too short – he was my friend and my mentor. I took all his classed during the 1982-84 years. I remember his keen ability to command attention or intrugue with a single word. His antidotes and “doodles” sketches were absolutely priceless. During those years, he was known around campus as “the Phantom” because he exclusively wore black. However, when confronted on the subject, he would simply display is gray sox or a red hanky or something else to show he did not “only wear black”. Often, he and I would met after class (a museum), or at his home in Hyrum (another museum) and engage in the most interesting discussions. He loved art (if it was in black and white). He constructed a very large painting of the poster from the move “All that Jaz” – which he loved and hung in his hiving room. I’ve never seen him so happy as the day I gave his a poster of ‘Knight, Death and the Devil’ – an etching by Albrecht Durer. His mastery of logic coupled with his work to embrace the complexity of linguistics, metaphysics and the human experience… truly speaks of his own personality. Outward, he displayed black and white (truth/false); but inward, he was a dazzling mix of wonderful colors. I am sad for students that did not know “Chuck”; they will never experience the fine-tuned mix of his mild manner and depth and enthusiasm for the material he taught. He was a gentleman, an educator and he mastered his field. Many people did not know it, but Chuck was also an American patriot. He had a poster tacked on the back of his office door that stated “Duty, Honor, Country”, from MacArthur’s final address at West Point. Chuck was a graduate of West Point. Well, I was a bit depressed when I graduated and moved on to my Air Force career, knowing I would not interact daily with Chuck. I contacted him after Desert Storm, when I was serving in Kosovo, and just after 9-11 (that was the last time we spoke). I will morn today.

By: Debi

Debi — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:11:20 +0000

Wow. I moved to the east coast in Jan so I didn’t even know until today. Chuck graduated from life on my grandma’s birthday. I dated Chuck. I lived with him in Hyrum for some time. We almost got engaged. He never got mad. He was a complete romantic and a gentleman.
Chuck wrote a philosophy book and it was published. I think it is 2 volumes.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:49:08 +0000

What a gut check to read that. My daughter is attending USU and I was wondering if Chuck was still teaching so I decided to look for him. I enjoyed all my philosophy classes but the main reason I have a minor in philosophy is because Chuck was so entertaining I kept taking classes from him. Truly one of the best professors I ever had. I still tell stories about his little quirks/mannerisms as well as the jokes and stories he’d tell the class, although in today’s PC climate I’m sure his story of sneezes and the central nervous system would land him in trouble. I loved how he’d set something up one class, then next class he’d unobtrusively drop the punch line. One time I literally laughed out loud. My friend sitting next to me didn’t pick up on it and just looked at me like I was an idiot. Finding out of his passing at this time is rather interesting, the past two Sundays in church I’ve been drawing his droodles for my junior high and high school aged kids to keep things from getting boring. I also started to re-read A Clockwork Orange. That was one of the three books we read in his philosophy in lit class. I still remember the picture of Alex in the Korova Milkbar hanging above the black radiator on his black wall. Chuck was a great addition to USU and a true one-of-a-kind, he will be greatly missed.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:03:53 +0000

I am finding this note about Chuck’s passing long after the fact. It’s been eight years since I was in Chuck’s class, and it’s been far too long since I talked with him in person. Like many others who have commented here, I thought of Chuck as my mentor and friend. He instilled in me a healthy, Wittgensteinian skepticism about academic philosophy, and he influenced how I approach the teaching of philosophy today. I regret that I never had the chance to tell him that I had acknowledged him in my dissertation (in May, 2009). I’ll miss him greatly. I thank all of you for sharing memories of Chuck–it was nice to remember those mannerisms, jokes, and stories.

By: Diane Walter

Diane Walter — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:13:35 +0000

Absolutely the best teacher and best mentor I ever had. When I chose to teach at a Catholic high school after graduation from USU, Chuck was one of my few adamant supporters. He was overjoyed when I started on my theology masters and overjoyed again when I graduated. He was quick to answer an email, and always had a laugh to share.

I remember his hysterical views on this world foibles, and how Wittgenstein could only make it better. He told our class once that he added the number 3 to his name so as to destroy the ability for phone solicitors to call him back. “My name is Chuck,” he would re-enact for us. “That’s a C, an H, a U, a 3, a K, a…. What was that? You can’t put numbers where letters go on your screen? But that’s how I spell my name! Please don’t call if you can’t spell my name correctly….”

My life is better having known him. Certainly I would not be able to teach without having taken every class I could from him. But mostly, I am a kinder, gentler, more compassionate person having been in his kind, gentle and compassionate presence. Truly, he taught what matters most.

By: akko

akko — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:51:53 +0000

Chuck’s office was right next to mine for over 15 years. I used to hear him talk to himself a lot. Eventually I sat in his aesthetics class for two semester, just because I was curious to hear what he has to say. His style of teaching was so not in style…meaning that he was writhing on the blackboard (I guess by that time it was whiteboard and markers) endlessly and always needed to erase to make more room for more writing. But he was without fail entertaining and thoughtful. I learned a lot from him.
He loved to be hugged and I loved to hug him. He was tender and in away had a child-like quality of pure soul. For that last few years I missed hearing him murmuring. But I am somewhat relieved knowing that he is in better place now. I only wish I could have shared one more cup of coffee with him…

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:16:54 +0000

After one day in Chucks class I knew I had to take as many courses from him as was humanly possible. Those courses were some of the brightest memories of my college experience. Many of his stories still reside in my memory. My favorite dealt with turn signals and how logic seemed not to apply to those who drove in Nibley. I too remember the constant mug by his side and the wonderful humor. Chuck you will be missed.

By: Kleiner

Kleiner — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:07:05 +0000

Here is Chuck’s obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/HJNews/obituary.aspx?n=Charles-Wayne-Johnson&pid=128537458

By: Diane Michelfelder

Diane Michelfelder — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:54:12 +0000

Wittgenstein wrote once that humor was a way of looking at the world. Chuck was always ready with a pun or a quip. You have to have a sharp mind for that, and Chuck did; but if Wittgenstein is right on this you also have to have an outlook that embodies your whole being. I think Chuck had that outlook and those who knew him all benefited from it.

During the time we were colleagues at USU I remember him talking about his first experience at the Austrian Wittgenstein conference in Kirchberg. In particular, I remember him talking about how, at the end of the conference, when the participants had all gotten on the bus to leave the small town for the airport, a number of schoolchildren lined up to sing and to wave those on the bus good-bye. I recall him being moved by the sweetness of it all, in a way that only someone who was sweet himself could be moved. Chuck blended sweetness, silliness, and seriousness in a way that was….well, pure Chuck. I am truly sorry that he is gone.