Michael A. Johnson, PhD, JD
April 17, 1944 - July 17, 2008
Michael was a kind man and considered a friend by all who had the pleasure of knowing
him. He was president of M. Johnson & Associates and had been a professor of Organizational
Management at the University of Minnesota since 1975. He was an internationally
known speaker and consultant who had conducted management and professional development
seminars and workshops in over 20 countries for most of the fortune 500 companies,
numerous government agencies and professional organizations, including IBM, Travelers
Insurance, 3M and the US Corps of Engineers. He was recognized as one of the pioneers
of "the instrumented approach to learning" and was the co-developer of The Personal
Profile (DISC) learning instrument. He completed his undergraduate and graduate
studies in Psychology at the University of Minnesota and received his Jurist Doctor
from the William Mitchell College of law in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was a practicing
attorney and a member of the American Bar Association. In addition to practicing
law, he had a passion for teaching students as a professor at the University of
MN Dental School for 30 years, and was currently working at the Carlson School of
Management. In addition to being a valuable member of the LCG Instructor Team, he
also worked with Park Dental Group and owned his own consulting firm. Michael was
an avid golfer and Past President of North Oaks Golf Club.
Michael was married to the love of his life for 41 years, Carol,loving father to,
Michael (Summer) Johnson, Jill (Andrew) Schroepfer. Michael was an adored Papa and
favorite playmate to his grandchildren, Blake and Ava Schroepfer and Aiden and Anna
Johnson. ; also survived by brother, Gary Johnson; sister, Sharon (Myles) Finnegan;
other loving family members; dear friends and golfing buddies.
Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association
Thoughts from the LCG “Family”
“Please extend the heartfelt condolences of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of PMI to
the Johnson and Lambert families. The project management profession lost a profound
leader and contributor, but most of all your families lost a friend, husband, father
and grandfather. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.” – PMI NEO
“I'm saddened by the loss of Mike.Although I have never met him, I've known of him
professionally. He had outstanding credentials and experience. When I read his bio
on LCG's website, I remember feeling even more proud of being part of the LCG Instructor
team because of him. I was hoping to meet him one day through Lee. I'm sorry that
that day will never come. Through your connection, in an inexplicable way, I feel
that I've lost a friend. My deepest condolences to you, Lee, your family, and Mike's
family. .” – LCG Instructor, Prasad Kodukula
“I am truly very sorry to hear of this. From the conversations I had with Lee, it
was very obvious that Mike was a very special person, who I was looking forward
to meeting and getting to know him, and playing a little golf with him as I saw
that was one of his passions. I am deeply saddened and sorry to hear of your loss
and my thoughts and prayers go to his and your families.” – PMI NEFL
"My deepest condolences to the Johnson family and to you, Lee and the rest of the
Lambert family. What startling news...Lee and Mike definitely had good chemistry
and would have taken the PM circuit by storm. They made a great team and it's too
bad it was cut short like this." - Keith Jenkins, PMI NEO
"I was shocked and saddened to hear about Mike's passing. I can feel that losing
Mike is really the loss of a family member. From the first moment I met Mike, I
took an instant liking to him. On the two brief occasions we spent together teaching
at PDUs for Pennies, Mike's passion for his work and his charisma just overflowed.
He is a kind and gentle spirit. I'm privileged to have been touched by his presence."
- Doug DeCarlo, LCG Instructor
Thoughts from past students
“It didn’t get better than Mike…learning, interaction, great stories, and humor.”
“Mike was a 10 + 9…that's a 19!”
“I think Mike was engaging and funny! I learned a lot from him!”
“Mike's workshop was one of the best workshops I have ever attended!”
“Mike was awesome! He used an excellent combination of information, humor, and applications.”
“Mike's workshop was the most insightful workshop that I have ever participated
in!”
“I cannot remember the last time my attention was held for a full day during a seminar.
Very well done with good real life examples and humor.”
“Mike would have been a blast at a cocktail party.”
“Mike was engaging and lived up to the Lee Lambert reputation. I would have attended
many more classes taught by Mike"
“I enjoyed Mike's presentation style. He was comical, he gave real life stories
and experiences, and he had great interactions.”
“Mike was a very good speaker and he told great stories!”
“Dr. Johnson gave a great session with several stories to keep humor involved while
understanding the points…well done!”
“Mike was excellent…kept us all engaged and interested!”
“Mike was clear, experienced, engaging, and funny!”
And finally, thoughts from Andy Schroepfer, Mike’s Son-In-Law (read at the funeral
services):
During that summer of 1994, I fell in love with the two ladies at the center of
Mike’s universe (his wife and their daughter, Jill). In meeting him during those
first months of dating Jill, I immediately learned that Mike was not only the emblematic
father that every girl envisions their Dad to be. Every day, in every moment, Mike
was the man you wanted to be, wanted to know, wanted to follow.
This man and his amazing family honor me often by telling people I am not an in-law,
but instead a son. Their son Michael honored me by telling Jill that she was marrying
her dad. While I am here to honor Mike today, I hope to honor him for the rest of
my life and will take seriously the opportunity to deepen the virtues Mike shared
with me, my children, and my family.
I cannot summarize how I feel much better than admitting that I have Big Shoes to
Fill.
- In his golf shoes at North Oaks and other great courses of the world, he
showed his competitive spirit, discipline and wonderful sense of humor.
- In his dress shoes at work and in the church, he showed brilliance, charisma
integrity, and an unshakable faith.
- In his loafers, which he wore at all other times, he showed his care, his
charm, and essentially his love for everything and everyone.
He wore all of these shoes every day, which is to say that all of Mike’s great qualities
were a part of his every day, every word, every action. He is the most amazing person
I have ever met.
When they took Mike away, for some crazy reason I noticed that he was not wearing
any shoes.
The only reason that would make sense is that he took them off in the hopes that
we would fill them.
His son Michael, which I am so lucky to call a friend as much as a brother, already
walks tall in those shoes.
Many of you have been so gracious in telling me that I too will fit in his shoes.
It is with the faith and love of all who knew him that I keep trying them on.
As I hope I said to you often enough Mike, thank you and I love you.
The entire LCG family will miss you, Mike! We are proud to have known you!