Josephine Johnson Of Southampton Dies December 29

Josephine Johnson, widow of the artist Lester Johnson (1919-2010), and an East End resident since 1954, died at her home in Southampton on December 29, 2018. She was 90.

Josephine Valenti Johnson, was born on July 25, 1928, in Brooklyn, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Queens College and went on to study art history at New York University School of Fine Art. While working at the Artist’s Gallery and within the close-knit art world of the times, she met the artist Lester Johnson, and in 1949 they were married. They lived in downtown Manhattan and spent summers in Provincetown until 1954, when they purchased land and built a house and studio in Springs.

The couple lived in Milford, Connecticut, after Mr. Johnson accepted the position of Professor of Painting at Yale University (1964-1989). They relocated to Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1975 but continued spending summers at the Springs house.

Ms. Johnson, an avid art historian, was also an artist, although she kept her drawings and bronze-case sculpture private while focusing more on her husband’s career.

She is survived by children, Leslie Lowery of Southampton and Anthony Johnson (Kimberly) of New York; her grandchildren, Stephanie Miller (Kyle), Julia Adams (Eric), Nicholas Johnson and Abigail Johnson; her great-grandchildren, Peter Adams and Lochan Miller; and her sister, Nadine Beauchamp of New York.

A private family burial was held at Sacred Hearts Cemetery in Southampton.