News > April 26, 2007

By Kevin Koehler | Online editor

Nearly 100 people crowded between the stark white walls of the Philip Hanes Art Gallery on April 22 to remember assistant professor of art Lynne Johnson, who passed away last month at the age of 61. By the time the service started, it was standing room only. Acquaintances, colleagues and students – all friends – fondly recalled an exceptionally avid and kind woman.

“The passion with which she spoke about art and life will stay with me always,” former student Dani Richardson, ’06, said.

“She had this incredible enthusiasm for having seen these artworks over and over again herself,” said her husband Peter Brunette, Reynolds professor of film studies.

“Her greatest joy was getting students turned on to things that meant so much to her.”

Thus, a new travel scholarship has been established in her honor. Each summer, it will award one art history major funds to trek anywhere in the world to see art firsthand. Beginning in spring 2008, art department faculty will select one applicant, with preference given to sophomores and juniors who can return to campus and share their experiences.

The memorial celebration recalled some of Johnson’s great loves. Nodding to her affection for all things Renaissance, professor of music Peter Kairoff performed pieces by Bach and Handel on a harpsichord, accompanied once by recorder and for one song by a chorus.

Recognizing her longtime adoration for French culture, Anna Rubino read “Crazy Waltz,” a poem by Boris Vian, and an excerpt of Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus.”

Surpassing these interests though, was Johnson’s passion for her students, friends recalled. Seniors Tracie Abbott and Brad Waywell read aloud some of the many condolence notes Brunette received from her students.

Each spoke of an intelligent, engaging professor with a contagious fervor for art. They described a woman who was always, it seemed, eager to talk with students and everyone she met, for hours if she had the chance, about much more than just art.

“(She) was a wonderful person. If she isn’t in heaven, then no one will make it,” junior Courtney Gregory wrote.

Some of those closest to her also spoke at the memorial, recounting the span of Johnson’s remarkable life.

Many in attendance laughed and some held back tears as the story unfolded over the course of the service.

Susan Kapsis, Johnson’s lifelong friend, recalled their childhood together in Wisconsin.

“In high school, Lynne was the person everyone came to for advice … They (realized) what for me had always been one of Lynne’s most treasured qualities – her ability to be fully engaged in listening.”

Johnson was a student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison during the Vietnam War; she majored in French and participated in antiwar protests.

She seized the opportunity to study abroad and travel in Europe, an experience that changed her life. She absorbed art, fell in love with Italy, and participated in the May 1968 student strike in Paris. For that, a policeman hit her in the forehead, leaving a small scar she proudly bared the rest of her life.

After years abroad, it was back in Madison where she met Brunette. “I don’t know about love, but it was certainly total fascination at first sight,” he wrote of his wife in a statement that was read at the service.

“She was, of course, the most exotic, glamorous thing this working-class guy from Pittsburgh had ever seen in his life. She was uniquely herself,” he said. Within months, she moved in with him. They were together for 37 years.

To them, free-thinking children of the ‘60s, getting married was a mere social convenience.

They tied the knot “the day after Nixon resigned the presidency” at the courthouse and stopped at a doughnut shop on the way home, Brunette said.

“We knew that none of it really mattered, one way or the other, married or unmarried, because we were so much in love.”

Johnson taught at Goucher College in Baltimore for almost two decades before coming to the university with Brunette in 2004.

“I am so glad we came here three years ago. My friends at Wake Forest have circled around me and been absolutely wonderful. I would have had a really hard time getting through this process if it wasn’t for them,” Brunette said.

“The outpouring of affection and respect and admiration for Lynne was astonishing to me and deeply, deeply, appreciated.”

“It was that silent joy in her eyes that really drew me to her … Lynne’s eyes looked at so much beauty,” Richard Schneider, professor of law, said at the close of the memorial.

“And when I think of what she must have seen over the course of her life – those beautiful stunning works of art in Italy, and France, and everywhere else she traveled … I came to realize that those eyes reflected that beauty back into the world. You just had to look for it and see it is all. It was there. And I will miss her.”

Students remember Professor Johnson

The following are excerpts from e-mails of condolence students of Lynne Johnson sent to Peter Brunette.

I just wanted to tell you that I think your wife was a wonderful person. If she isn’t in heaven, than no one will make it.

- Junior Courtney Gregory

She taught me an introduction to art history last year and after half of the semester I wanted to study it forever! Alas, it was my senior year so I have to survive on just a love of art instead of a career in it – but I wanted to let you know how much of a difference she made in my last semester at Wake. The passion with which she spoke about art, and life, will stay with me always.

- Dani Richardson, ‘06

Lynne is the reason I knew I wanted to be an Art History major ... I took her intro class, and fell in love with art because of her extensive knowledge and obvious passion for the subject. She was always available to chat or help with a paper, and she gave me the confidence to express myself verbally in class and through papers. I accidentally missed the final, and she was even kind enough to let me take a make up exam – unbelievable! ... She knew details about the art that no book could ever convey ...

I went to Florence, and absolutely could not stop talking about the fabulous Professor Johnson, and imparting her wisdom to my friends. Florence came alive for me in a way it did not (could not) for all of my friends, because I was already in love with the city that ignited the passion of who is without a doubt the best, most influential, most informative, kindest, fairest, most amazing teacher I have had at Wake Forest. I am so saddened by this loss, but I am happy to know she can run around with all of her favorite artists up in heaven. I will miss Professor Johnson, and I will always think of her whenever I see or study art.

- Junior Alden Speake

I had her Intro to Art History course last year – as a second semester senior. I am sure you know from experience that keeping the attention of second semester seniors can be a difficult task. Lynne Johnson, however, did it with gusto. Her enthusiasm was contagious. I took the class with several good friends and we often left her classroom discussing how much she loved what she was talking about, and how much we enjoyed her, both as a teacher and person. She was always patient with us, and her excitement when we got in to discussions about pieces was palpable – which only encouraged us to discuss more. Her genuine sincerity when discussing paper topics made me head straight to the library from class to get started with research – regardless of the fact that the paper I was writing wasn’t due until the exam period – another six to eight weeks away.

- Jennie Harris, ‘06

I have always had a passion for art and when I studied abroad last semester in Barcelona, I quickly realized that was the one key ingredient missing from my academic studies at Wake Forest. Unfortunately, I came to this realization after registration for classes had ended, thus no one would allow me into their closed classes...except your wife. Out of every art history professor I e-mailed, she was the only one who understood how I felt and how my experience abroad changed me forever.

When I sat in her class on the first day, we engaged in conversation like old friends – she asked me about things I saw in Europe and expressed how happy she was that I was with her. Someone asked me afterwards how many classes I had taken with her and to their surprise my answer was none – I guess it we just understood each other right off the bat. She was always warm, always kind, and knew everything about art. She was a wonderful person who I admired and wished I could have known longer.

- Junior Mary Helen Prince

Dr. Johnson was one of my favorite professors at Wake Forest – I was always inspired by her love for the subject matter and how her enthusiasm would rub off on every student in the room. You could always tell when she was particularly excited about something we were discussing in class because she would send us an email after the fact with additional sources of information and thoughts on the matter...

Some of my favorite time spent with Dr. Johnson was when I would go to see her during her office hours – usually to discuss a paper assignment or to ask a few questions about an upcoming exam – but we would always get off track and talk about her many travels and experiences in the field....

She was a very special woman, and an excellent professor. I know I speak for all of her students when I say how lucky we were to have gotten to know her and to have had the pleasure of learning about art through her.

- Senior Kim Frazier