Classmates gather at reunion to remember friend

In both life and death, Claudia Johnson ’85 brought people together. Although Johnson died on March 7, 2000, her classmates chose last October’s Homecoming to reflect on her impact on their lives.

“The rain that pelted Portland that day did not dampen the spirit and energy of those who gathered to remember her,” commented Mike Teskey ’85.

More than 20 classmates converged on campus to celebrate Johnson’s life, including Paul Jorgensen ’85, who flew from Washington, D.C., and Brigitte Kelly Menezes ’85, who traveled from Colorado.

“We met and became friends here at Lewis & Clark, so this was the natural place to honor our Claudia,” Jorgensen said.

“Her friends presented the College that meant so much to her with two mementos,” according to Noel Johnson Jackson ’89. “A rare purple-leaf weeping beech tree stands near the Gatehouse and a lei of shells from Micronesia (Johnson studied there) hangs in the biology department.”