Deanna K. Johnson. Irreplaceable. Period.
In my 22 years at NCRA and NCRF, I came to know Deanna as a dedicated volunteer, passionately committed to her profession—and, really, to anything in which she believed. And, boy—did she believe in stenographic court reporting. While still working, she found time to serve as an NCRA board member and on several key NCRA committees, including the Council of the Academy of Professional Reporters Verification Committee and on the Council on Approved Student Education Advisory Committee. She was also active in the Teachers Community of Interest. These consumed inordinate hours of precious, personal time, but that didn’t faze her.
NCRF was “born” in 1980, when the NCRA board also served as the NCRF board. In 1992, NCRF became autonomous with a separate staff and board. Deanna was on the NCRA board at that time, and she watched as any mother watches a child while we took baby steps and developed into a responsible adult. She loved NCRF from that moment on, and that’s really when our personal friendship started developing. Deanna soon became “Dee” to me. She said that’s what her friends called her. And I became “Beej” to her.
I could fill this entire publication with recollections of Dee and what she meant to NCRF and to me. She served on the NCRF Board of Trustees for five years, from 2003-2008, ascending to Chair in 2006. She was a strong yet nurturing leader. During her time on the NCRF Board, she was instrumental in restructuring NCRF’s governance model, in creating a formal investment policy, in conducting and implementing two strategic plans, and probably most important to her, in expanding NCRF’s scholarship program. She loved students!
She played a key role in establishing NCRF’s future, both through her commitment as a leader and her tenacity in raising money. Her fundraising prowess is legendary and cannot be replaced! Who among us hasn’t received a call from her, either on behalf of ACRA or NCRF, or the Republican Party—or all of the above! She had that perfect combination of sincerity and warmth in her voice. That, combined with her soft, gentle Southern accent, was irresistible.
She participated in NCRF’s annual phone-a-thons for 11 consecutive years. We sure had some fun. For most volunteers, it’s grueling. Not for Dee. She thrived on it! As a matter of fact, she’d stay an extra week and then made calls throughout the summer from her home! One year, she alone raised $30,000 of the $90,000 we got that year! This year, she missed phone-a-thon because of her illness in the spring, but she had taken some cards with her to the Alabama Convention in Florida, because she was planning to stay an extra week and would have time to make her summer calls. Most of us would call that being a glutton for punishment, but not Dee. She was motivated by her love for NCRF and by an internal competitive drive.
When NCRF started the Angels Drive in 2006, she signed up to help. Mind you, she still came to phone-a-thon! We asked each volunteer to get four Angels—these are $1,000 donors. That year, she got 11. The next year, 21. The next year, 24. And so far this year, 20, and that’s with being sick about five of the ten months so far.
NCRF has a planned giving program called the Legacy Society. It’s where someone can provide for NCRF through his or her estate planning. Dee had been talking about doing this for some time. I just shake my head when I think about this, but she faxed me the paperwork on July 12th. She was so excited that she had finally done it, and, as custom would have it, we planned a full, one-page ad for the JCR. We talked about the photo she sent, and about the quote she gave me. It went to press the second week of August, and Dee left us on the 19th. I just saw the JCR. It will take breath away. It’s still all so surreal….
Anyone who knew Dee knows that she loved to travel, especially after retiring several years ago, and she liked to have a buddy to share it with. I can’t tell you the number of times she’d say, in her impish voice, “Beejie, I’ve got this great condo in (Hawaii, Tennessee, Florida, Panama, or wherever!)! Come with me!” Somehow, the timing never worked for me, and I always thought there would be another time. One thing for sure, I knew she’d keep asking. Of course, whoever thought this would happen.
Dee and I spent hours and hours working together with some fun times interspersed here and there. Fortunately, I finally did get to spend some quality, personal time with her one year. A couple of years ago, after her two weeks at phone-a-thon in Tysons Corner, we escaped to Karen Jacoby’s beach home on the Delaware Shore. Karen was Director of Professional Development at NCRA for about 25 years, and we were all great friends. Karen worked with CASE and CAPR and also knew Dee well. We spent a wonderful weekend there, reminiscing about “old times,” remembering friends we lost, like Frank Sarli, solving all of NCRA and NCRF’s problems, watching movies, playing games, reading, relaxing—doing things that best friends do. I never got to share her generous offers for gorgeous condos around the world, but I’m so thankful for those couple of days at the shore.
Professionally, I grew to love Dee because she was a dedicated, committed and tireless representative of the profession. She gave 110% to everything.
Personally, I grew to love her because she was pure of heart and a true blue friend. We talked at least once a week, often late at night because she was a night owl. I wouldn’t dare call before 11:00 a.m., but I could always call until about 1:00 a.m.
She loved life. She loved her profession, including ACRA and NCRF. She loved her family and friends, and she especially loved her parents, Agnes and Howard, and her daughter, Terri. I feel truly blessed for having been in this circle of love and for counting her among my dearest friends.
Deanna K. Johnson. Irreplaceable. Period.
B. J. Shorak
Deputy Executive Director
National Court Reporters Foundation