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In Memoriam: Alex Johnson

Dr. Thomas Alexander (Alex) Johnson
09/20/1991 - 07/21/2020

It has been nearly 8 months since Alex's passing.  So much has changed in each of our worlds but one thing that has remained the same is the immense gratitude our family feels to each of you for your extreme generosity during this time.  From donations through this page, to kind notes and letters, to phone calls and flowers - every act, large and small, has left an indelible mark on our lives. 

We wanted to provide an update  on the use of the funds you all gave without hesitation.  While we wish these funds could have been used for their intended purpose of helping Alex with medical bills and recovery, we are now seeking to use them to create a lasting legacy in his name.  Nearly 400 people from around the world - strangers, high school friends, college professors, roommates, professional acquaintances - donated to this fund.  We see this as a true testament to Alex's character, charm and  his unwavering ability to leave a unique impression on each person he met.  Below you can see a breakdown of the funds raised and their distribution. 

Alex's family carefully weighed both what Alex would have wanted as well as the best way to ensure this money would a positive and lasting impact.  The decision was made to equally divide the bulk of the funds between the three institutions of higher education  Alex attended.  Each one uniquely impacted his life and led him on his path and we hope these donations will do the same for aspiring geologists like him.   We are working with William and Mary and Washington State University to determine exactly where the funds will be directed.  A fund has been set up at UC Santa Barabara in his name to support undergraduate mentorship, something for which Alex was passionate.

 
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Today, September 20, would have been Alex’s 29th birthday.  We would have called or texted to send him well wishes – in a way showing our gratefulness for his presence among us for another year.  While this year we can only celebrate his birth in spirit, we hope it is still a celebration of his presence.

His absence is especially painful today but the memories we shared with him bring smiles and tearful joy.  One of the ways he made friends smile and shared his unique perspective was through his doodles.  We wanted to share some of them with you.  We invite you to join us in celebrating his birthday by sharing his delightful doodles with others.

Earlier this summer, we modified the popular painted rock craze and decided to mod podge some of Alex’s doodles onto rocks and hide them around the Geology building at William and Mary for students and professors to stumble upon.  We have created a pdf which you can also use to print and create rocks in his memory.  The document contains a curated selection of doodles as well as labels (each page indicating a school he attended) for the back of the rocks.  Just be sure to slather on multiple layers of mod podge to make it water resistant. 



Additionally, we are eternally grateful to one of Alex’s WSU friends for using some of these doodles to design awesome apparel  which you can purchase!  We are so excited to rock (pun intended) these fun shirts and sweatshirts in his memory.  (Side note- Alex’s friends are AMAZING and while we wish we could have met you all through different circumstances we are grateful to be able to share stories with you all!)



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The following is information regarding Alex's health battle - for the most recent information on his death and memorial see the updates posted below.
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"If they were lucky enough to know him - the whole world would be rooting for him and his recovery."

They'd be rooting for good reason, as Alex Johnson is truly one of the most gentle and smart individuals you could come across.  At 28 he has already accomplished so much  and impacted so many.  Born and raised in Prince George, Virginia Alex left an indelible mark on his teachers and classmates before heading off to the College of William and Mary to pursue higher education.  There, he discovered his passion for geology.  This passion has taken him around the world, from Alaska to Oman to Nepal.  After graduating from William and Mary Alex took the brave step of packing up and moving across  the country to obtain his Masters Degree from Washington State University.  Today Alex is in the last phases of earning his PhD in geology at the University of California Santa Barbara where he has been embraced by his community and even awarded the Fiona and Michael Goodchild Mentoring Award for supervising undergraduate research.  He was looking forward to completing his dissertation and graduating this year and then continuing to contribute his work and knowledge to the study of our world. 


But in the late hours of June 20th Alex was rushed to the hospital suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm and subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) - a very serious and life-threatening condition.  Thankfully his quick-thinking roommates and friends were able to recognize something was wrong and get him the help he needed before the aneurysm took his life.  Recovery from the initial rupture has not been easy though.


Alex is currently in a medically induced coma at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and has undergone multiple surgeries to stop the vasospasms and clots which continue to plague his brain following the initial aneurysm.  The best neurosurgeons and hospital staff are on the case, monitoring his condition and placing coils in his brain to control these vasospasms.  Until they can control them though, they are unable to proceed with major brain surgery to place a permanent shunt in his brain which will reduce the pressure.  In the meantime, remaining in a medically induced coma relieves him of the intense pain he was suffering and allows his body to rest (but still carries its own risk). 


During the first couple of days in the hospital, Alex was conscious and alert, even joking and chatting with friends and family on the phone.  Thankfully his parents, Chad and Micaela Johnson, were able to fly across the country, remain healthy and safe from Coronavirus concerns, and see him during this time.  Then and now visitation is severely limited - only one person per day for a very short amount of time.  It was during one of these short visits in the beginning of his recovery that Alex expressed deep concern and stress regarding the financial burden this may create.  Right now we need Alex to focus all of his energy on repairing his body - worry over something like money shouldn't even cross his mind.  That's where you can help.  A donation, in any amount, will provide security and comfort to Alex once he is out of the hospital and working to a full recovery.

Funds will be used for medical and other expenses that may be incurred during his journey to healing.  Any money that does not need to be used to assist Alex with his medical expenses will be donated to establish a fund at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to specifically help UCSB students who may one day need medical care while far away from home.  

Aside from financial support, please continue to provide the positive thoughts, prayers, and well wishes for him - he needs it right now - this is not going to be an easy path and he will be facing many mental and physical challenges as we move forward.  Thank you so very much.
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Rebecca Bollman
    • $74 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $30 
    • 4 yrs
  • Avery Eliades
    • $25 
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 4 yrs
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Fundraising team (2)

Amanda Vtipilson
Organizer
Raised $3,260 from 26 donations
Prince George, VA
CeJae Vtipilson
Team member
Raised $3,490 from 32 donations
This team raised $29,350 from 336 other donations.

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