David A. Johnson, MD, PhD, of Wilmington, NC originally of Parkland, PA went home to be with our Lord on December 9, 2018, after a long and arduous battle with MDS and acute leukemia. He was the son of the late Charles and Mary Johnson, born in Philadelphia, PA on June 13, 1952. He is survived by his loving and grateful wife of 36 years, Patricia; his daughters, Emily and Caroline; his son Bradley (Kayla); and two sisters, Mary Beth Poplau and Judy Thomas (Wayne) of New Jersey, cousin Bill Blakely of CA; and numerous nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. His family includes in-laws Elaine (Dr. Ronald) Barry of ME, Sharon Holmes of CA, Michael (Kathy) DeConti of CT, John (Mary) DeConti of CT, Rose (David) Weed of CT, Joanne (Troy) Helms of WA, and their loving families. Dave was predeceased by his brother Charlie.
David graduated from Haddon Township HS in NJ, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and obtained a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and his medical internship at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center there as well, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center, where he served as chief resident. Dr. Johnson also completed fellowship training in Pediatric Ophthalmology at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC with Dr. Marshall Parks.
Dr. Johnson was an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in the early 1990s.
Following his academic career, Dr. Johnson became an accomplished private practice physician in Wichita, Kansas at The Eye Clinic of Wichita/Grene Vision Group, then here in Wilmington at Wilmington Eye from 2005-2016. He was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and became a fellow of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Dr. Johnson was also elected to the prestigious American Ophthalmological Society and throughout his career was recognized as one of the best doctors both in America and in North Carolina. Dr. Johnson’s career accomplishments also included publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, research trials in children’s eye care for PEDIG, and serving as a reviewer for professional journals in ophthalmology.
David’s passions in life included spending time with his family, his avid support of and involvement in Boy Scouts of America, Cape Fear Council, long-distance cycling, fishing, crabbing, and bird-watching. David was beloved in his community and will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held at The Bridge Church, 2101 Market Street, on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made in his name to one of the following: the Children’s Eye Foundation of AAPOS (Childrenseyefoundation.org), BetheMatch.org, or Boy Scouts of America, Cape Fear Council https://www.capefearcouncilbsa.org/donate/donate-online/
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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S. 41st Street Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-9099
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