Alan Johnson Obituary

Alan E. Johnson died peacefully at his Durango ranch on March 28. Born in North Carolina to Norman and Genevieve Johnson in 1937, Alan's childhood followed his father's career. Dr. Johnson was a professor at Knox College in Galesburg, IL, then became headmaster at Park School in Indianapolis. The family settled in Schenectady, NY where Alan's father was a professor at Union College and his mother taught high school English literature.
In 1955 Alan graduated from Hotchkiss School in Conn. He attended Haverford College in Pennsylvania on a basketball scholarship. As captain of the team, Alan frequently was acknowledged by the local newspaper as the team leader and high scorer. Alan graduated from Duke School of Law in 1962.
Following graduation, Alan reported for basic training at Fort Ord in California. He served with the JAG, earned his pilot's license and was selected as outstanding company trainee for performance and duty.
Alan began practicing law with a large corporate firm in Los Angeles, but was admonished by the senior partners for representing clients in pro bono trial work. Thus, Alan left corporate practice to become a partner in the Orange Count law firm Moore, Graves, Madory and Johnson where he specialized in personal injury and malpractice defense. While practicing in Southern California, Alan served on the state bar's Special Administrative Disciplinary Committee and was a member of the American Board of Trail Advocates.
Practicing law was Alan's passion, but his California weekends were spent racing cars, scuba diving and racing dirt bikes in the Mojave Desert. Susan, then his future wife, still believes Alan married her because she never missed a pit stop while acting as his trusty pit crew.
In 1975, Alan moved to his beloved Florida Mesa ranch, discovered during a vacation. The following year he married Susan Lenz in a small ceremony on their ranch, officiated by his father. He resumed law practice as Assistant District Attorney in Durango from 1977 through 1980. Returning to private practice in 1980, Alan represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases until he retired in 2014. He took cases and represented clients he believed in, working tirelessly on their behalf. Alan was an active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and was often asked to speak to CTLA and judiciary conferences. As a member of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Alan enjoyed teaching professional skills and ethics to young attorneys. LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell recognized Alan because his fellow attorneys, for 25 consecutive years, graded him with the highest possible peer rating for legal ability and ethical standards, the preeminent AV rating.
At his retirement luncheon in 2014, Alan was honored by the Durango and Colorado bar associations for his 50 years of practice in the legal community. His legal skills, integrity, intelligence, courtroom decorum, professional and personal generosity and ever-present good humor were among the attributes noted by his fellow attorneys. The 2013-2014 president of the Colorado Bar, Terry Ruckriegle, chose the words "icon" and "legend" to describe Alan.
Alan's many friends knew him as a cowboy, rancher, expert horseman, horse trainer and mountain guide who loved riding and camping in the mountains. He so enjoyed sitting around the campfire, telling stories, laughing and touching the stars. Winter found him skiing, rarely missing a powder day at Purg or chasing storms to Alta or Jackson, wherever Susan and he could find the deep and the steep. Shared memories of a heli-ski trip to Canada with Durango friends always brought about talk of "the best run ever," which meant "all the runs." Judge Al Haas once told a distinguished Denver attorney, "You realize, if it's a powder day, Alan will ask for, and probably get, a continuance."
In the spring, Alan and Susan often headed to Desolation Sound and the San Juan Islands for sea kayaking and hiking. One glorious summer they were invited by friends to cruise the Inside Passage to Alaska. Whether running rivers, diving, skiing, kayaking, riding horses or sitting on their deck listening to the larks, Alan and Susan shared a love for outdoor life and adventure, occasionally getting more adventure than they bargained for.
Alan and Susan helped raise two nephews, Erich Lenz and Trevor Secunda. In 2008, Trevor moved to the Johnson Ranch with his seven year old daughter, Trini. Trini quickly became, and remained, the light of Alan's life.
Alan was known in the Durango community and by friends and family for his generosity, loving kindness, his humor and wit. Alan was a man of all seasons, larger than life. He is loved and he is missed.
Alan is survived by his wife Susan, brothers Tom Johnson of Annandale, VA and Bruce Johnson of Kalamazoo, MI, nephews Erich Lenz of State College, PA and Trevor Secunda of Durango, grand niece Trini Secunda of Durango, cousins Mary Tiegreen of Palisades, NY and Susan Smith of Dexter, MI, along with many chosen and extended family members.
A memorial will take place in late June. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the La Plata County Humane Society, Manna Soup Kitchen or Adaptive Sports at Purgatory.