Curtis (Curt)) Johnson

Profile Updated: January 30, 2025
Residing In Seattle, WA USA
Occupation Retired Technical Writer
Children None ... yet! But that's not for the lack of trying.
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I worked in Chicago in publishing, and then in 1981, I got fed up with the heat in summer and the snow in winter and talked a friend into moving out west with me. We chose Seattle because we'd both been out there to visit, me with the Chicago Cavaliers Drum and Bugle corps for a national competition in August 1963.

I started out in legal textbook publishing, but then got a job as a technical editor at Microsoft. Eventually, I wanted to move up to being a writer, but that was very hard to do then.

So, in 1986, I quit and worked for Boeing as a technical writer, free lance. When that contract was up, I took jobs working on documentation at a bank and then back at Microsoft. In March 1990, Microsoft hired me as a full-time technical writer.

In December 1999, I retired and have been enjoying life and my various pursuits ever since. What are those pursuits? Here are some:

* Created and manage a website for a non profit group.
* Travel a lot -- went to the Paris Air Show in June 2013.
* Play snare drum and march with a drumming group in Seattle called 2nd Wind.
* Jog and work out with weights 6 days per week.
* Enter mid-distance running races (Since turning 60, I've won one 10-K race in Montreal and a 5K race in Copenhagen).
* Read voraciously -- love a good coffee house on a rainy day with a hot cup of coffee and a good book to read.
* Stay on top of technology, both with my computer and cell phone and with my car, with the latest gadgets.

That's for starters. . . .

School Story

We'd come back into Miriam Tunison's junior English class after a lunch break. Stan Hegberg and this girl, whose name I can't remember, were goofing around. Suddenly, Stan said loudly, "Now listen here, sister!"

Then I piped up: "Sister? Sister? If she were MY sister, I'd take her out in the woods and .... [pause] .... shoot her!"

Everybody, including Miss Tunison, cracked up laughing. When the laughter had died down, Miss Tunison said, "Boy, that sure was a pregnant pause!"

Curtis (Curt))'s Latest Interactions

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Jan
30
Jan 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Myself and my brother at the Forest Hills Candle Light Christmas dinner, Dec. 2024.
Jan 30, 2025 at 3:30 PM

Posted on: Jan 26, 2025 at 7:52 AM

Happy Birthday Curtis - hope you have a great day!!

Jan
26
Jan 26, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Oct
31
Oct 31, 2024 at 3:54 PM

Tommy, I got a chuckle out of your response to my post on that volatile political thread. So you live in Georgia. Quite a change from Rockford, Illinois. I'm doing fine, recovering from open heart surgery and enjoying life. I hope you're doing fine too. Wow! We're 78. Can you believe it?

In 2018, I went to my class of 1968 graduation from Augustana College. I remember bumping into you when we were building floats for the homecoming parade in 1967, I think. Things have changed -- no more homecoming parade, no floats, and no Friendship Fair. It seemed pretty grim. Oh, well, glad to see you're alive and kicking. You struck a memory of Patti from our younger years. But Billy, I can't conjure up from my memory banks. Take care!

Oct
07
Oct 07, 2024 at 4:53 PM
Jan 26, 2024 at 3:33 AM
Curtis (Curt)) Johnson added a comment on his Profile.
May 16, 2023 at 9:26 AM
Jan 26, 2023 at 8:05 AM

Happy Birthday Curtis - hope you have a great day!!

Jan 26, 2023 at 3:33 AM
Jan 27, 2022 at 4:38 PM

Thank you, Linda. Although I turned 76, I am celebrating my landmark 75th birthday this year in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, since I couldn’t celebrate it last year due to that hateful virus. I hope you and Jerry are well!

Jan 26, 2022 at 8:08 AM

Happy Birthday Curt - hope you have a great day!

Jan 26, 2022 at 3:33 AM
Curtis (Curt)) Johnson has left an In Memory comment for his Profile.
Jul 16, 2021 at 10:37 AM

I was glad to meet John at the 50th reunion. I never knew him in high school, but I did know his cousin Stan, who predeceased John. I'm so sorry that they are both gone. 

Jan 26, 2021 at 3:33 AM
Jan 26, 2020 at 3:35 AM
Jun 06, 2019 at 7:33 PM

 

John (nicknamed "Curly") lived two doors from me on Sexton Drive. We met when we were 5 years old, pulling our red wagons behind us. We both loved story-telling and writing and drawing comic books, for which I got in trouble in class at Jefferson Junior High. We were best friends all the way through grade school (first class to start in kindergarten and finish in sixth grade). 

I lost track of him when I went to college after graduating from East High. I'm glad to read that he had a fulfilling life.

I never knew he served in the Army, stationed in Korea. I"m not surprised to read that he always loved reading and writing (as do I). I'm impressed that he got several comic books published and a novel as well. We certainly had plenty of practice telling stories to each other, chapter by chapter as we walked to school and even as we walked to downtown Rockford.

Rest in peace, Curly.

Jan 26, 2019 at 3:33 AM
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Apr 26, 2018 at 10:44 AM

Posted on: Apr 24, 2018 at 1:15 PM

Hi, Neva. So you live in Honolulu? Very nice. I'm envious. Sorry you missed the Phantom Regiment's 60th anniversary bash. We had a great time. Very few of us left from the original corps. I heard Jack died a while ago. So sorry to hear that news.

Curtis (Curt)) Johnson has a birthday today. New comment added.
Jan 26, 2019 at 12:46 PM

Posted on: Jan 26, 2018 at 3:33 AM

Curtis (Curt)) Johnson added a comment on his Profile.
Jun 23, 2017 at 1:45 PM
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Posted: Jan 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Myself and my brother at the Forest Hills Candle Light Christmas dinner, Dec. 2024.
Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:32 AM
Me in the captain's seat of a 787 Dreamliner, Paris Air Show, June 2013.