Writing a Tribute to Brian
by: Susan W. Smith
This week I looked back in my emails – all the way back to the beginning. I started my life at TI Life, back in December 2008. Soon after, in June 2009, I received an email from a man named Capt. Brian Johnson. He asked if I would like to publish some of his writings. From then on, I would watch my email for the name Capt. Johnson – and each time, I would give a big sigh of appreciation – that appreciation was expressed over 50 times over the years.
You see, Brian was born a storyteller. His stories would always start with a quotation that had a connection to his story, and then carry on giving us a history lesson or describing individuals that meant something important to the River community. Three of them were to people I considered close friends - others introduced me to those I wish I knew better.
On May 8, 2025, Brian Johnson died with his family close by. He and his beloved wife Cathy, visited our island for lunch many years ago and as has been described so often in the past month - meet Brian Johnson and Cathy once and they are your friends.
Reviewing Brian's past stories – all 50+ of them – has made me smile, but it also has made me extremely upset. You see in June 2019, TI Life crashed, and it was necessary to start with a new system. Luckily Mike Cox, our IT Magician, was able to save most of the old articles – but as I reviewed Brian's work this month, I have discovered that some are missing – the title and the comments from the old format are there, but not the article itself. However, annoyed at myself as I am, I will be able to republish some of them in the weeks to come, which will delight me and our readers all over again.
When I asked others what Brian Johnson did to make them smile, I realized that for me it was the toot toot of the Canadian Empress as she would go up the channel in front of Sagastaweka Island, after spending the night at their mooring near Lindsay Island, in the Admiralty Group. He always saluted us at 8:30 am on his way back to Kingston. I could count on it to wake me up, or better yet, to get me going!
TI Life owes you, Brian, big time - you always provided material that made us both learn, think and always smile. Merci Beaucoup.
Mike Hill, Aerosnapper, shared The Last Run with Brian's many friends. Not only was the Aerosnapper capable of capturing the view from above, but he knew Brian would appreciate the tribute the local commercial boats paid on the The Last Run, too.
Brian's Last Ten for TI Life: https://thousandislandslife.com/author/brian-johnson/; To see the first 40 [!] view here: https://tilife.org/BackIssues/Archive/tabid/393/articleType/AuthorView/authorID/275/Default.html
By Susan W. Smith, Editor, info@thousandislandslife.com
[Header photo from the YouTube video by Mike Hill, Aerosnapper, with the following explanation: "Kingston. 17 May 2025 - Captain Brian Johnson, long-time Master of the ferry Wolfe Islander III, makes a final run aboard her on his way to a funeral service at Sacred Heart of Mary Church on the Island he loved."
A high attendance at this Mass only hints at the love and respect there was for Captain Johnson. The escort from the City of Kingston Fireboat, the Canadian Coast Guard's Cutter Cape Hearne and the two cruise vessels from Thousand Islands Cruise Lines; the Island Star and Island Belle, underline the regard with which this mariner, historian and wonderful story-teller was viewed.Master of the ferry Wolfe Islander III, makes a final run aboard her on his way to a funeral service at Sacred Heart of Mary Church on the Island he loved."
