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Here is a little writing
from the family members about Scott.
Read on...
His Son's...
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Bryan M. Johnson
Oh
Dad. The giant he was. No matter where you were he was always
"looking over you." My dad was a very good person to a lot of
people. He cared for everyone, no matter who you were to him.
You could be a bum off the street, and he would just be as nice
to you as anyone else. He was the type of person that would give
the shirt right off his back. He was a good person, and he will
always be a good person in my heart.
My dad and I shared a lot of memories together through out our
years together. We bonded very well, but fought just as good
too. He loved to fight with you and the make up with you right
afterwards, he was that type of person. He got me into playing
tee ball, and baseball when I was younger, then took me out of
it to start Boy Scouts. We got very involved, and he did too. He
became my pack leader, and a big leader he was to a lot of the
boys that were in my troop. From all the crazy camping trips to
all the fun and games we had at the hall for the meetings. That
ended soon after too, as he tried to get me into being a ham
radio operator, just like he was. Well that never happened, it
was too confusing for me, but it was funny watching and
listening to him try to teach me the proper way to talk on the
radio. He became a big shot in Ham Radio, being the Head
Emergency Coordinator for the Town of Brookhaven, and taking on
the big events of the TWA Flight 800 Crash, plus the 1996 Wild
Fires. He helped change a lot of peoples lives during those
times. He ended up giving that up, and devoting more time to the
family. Purchasing our first "fun-kart." It didn't end up just
being fun. We would have to take the thing to the train station
to race against his friends fun karts. That's what egged him on
to get into Go-Kart racing. So that was sold, and a new kart was
bought for racing, boy was that an experience in itself. All the
ice cold nights in Medford, to the winning warm nights at
Riverhead. All his hard work and dedication brought me to become
the 2000 EKRA Jr. Stock A Champion. He put me ahead of the
competition, and "in another zip code" as the announcers would
always announce. He did everything he could for his kids to get
the best race karts, spend his last dollar to keep us going. He
ended up starting a whole new division, a creation of his own,
and that grew big. His ideas were huge, almost as big as he was,
and most of his ideas became a reality. When this guy put his
mind to it, he did what he had to do to get it done, he was a
go-getter. My life with my dad was a rough one towards the end.
We fought a lot, but then realized what was the point. He came
to hang out and always bug me to make him new decals to show off
to his friend. He bragged about my work to everyone, and that
made me feel really good, I had a person who loved me and my
work. He would come over late at night since I only got off work
at 9ish, and I'd get home and he'd be there waiting with the
Dunkin' Donuts for us, mostly jelly, which NONE of us liked
except for him. (Good One Dad) He would always come in the room
and say "hey you get my number 1's done yet," I'd reply "nope,
haven't had the time." This would go one for weeks, and finally
I'd get them done. He wanted me to letter his trailer for him
for the longest time, but I never had an off weekend. Well he
was getting ready for the "Salem Ride" and I told him to drop
the trailer off, and I'd do it for him. Well that day never
came, he was in the hospital Thursday... Sadly, he never came
out... I love my dad dearly as you can see. He was a big part of
my life, and to show my appreciation to him, his trailer was
lettered in time for his funeral. So he and his friends in
heaven could look down upon it and realize that I stood on my
word and did it the way he wanted. Now with this website, we can
re-live some of the memories and things he created for us... All
the good he did for us, and for everyone. Rest In Peace Dad. We
love you, and miss you!
- Bryan |
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Michael R.
Johnson
Ah, what to
say about dear ol' dad. Growing up I always remember
him coming home from work at 6:30 just in time for dinner,
and he would always be the first one done. He used to
say to us, "I don't fool around." He always loved bragging
about himself to us and he always told his friends about his
two kids. Through our childhood we had a lot of problems
between my mother and father, but none of that is really
important right now. I just try to remember all the good
times me and my father had together. When I was 8, we got a
go-kart to ride around at the Ronkonkoma Train Station. At
first I was terrified of it, but my father and brother,
Bryan assured me that I wouldn't blow up in a million pieces
and that I would have fun, and boy were they right. I got my
first racing kart at the age of nine, and I am glad my
father was involved in me and my brothers racing careers. My
father was the kind of guy that if he didn't know how to do
something, he learned. In 2003 when we stopped karting, my
father got bored and wanted to take up a new hobby. I was
playing lacrosse for my school so my father ended up buying
a motorcycle in 2004 after his childhood friend Mike talked
him into it. After a couple of rides with him, I wanted
more. This past year in 2006, the chance of a life time came for me to go
to California on a Cross Country Trip so I didn't hesitate.
It was the best 16 days me and my father spent together, and
I am glad I went.
My father
meant a lot to me and I can't believe he is gone. I think
about him all the time as he was a very big part of me, my
moms, and my brothers life. He was trying to make up for the
past by hanging out with me and the family a couple nights a
week, and it made a difference. I will never forget him and
he will always be in my heart. I Love You Dad!
- Michael
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His Wife...
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Nancy L. Johnson
It’s been a whole two years and not a day has gone by that I
have not thought about you. I know we had our differences in
the past, but the past year things changed by you coming
around more often to see us and bring us Dunkin Donuts. It
was nice to see you spend time with each one of the boys and
then sit down and watch TV with me and have a conversation
between the two of us. The time we shared was irreplaceable.
We were surprised when you showed up unannounced two or
three times a week. It was nice talking to you discussing
what was going on in your life as well as mine. I really
appreciated it when you apologized for the past and wanted
to spend more time with us. Thank you for the motorcycle
rides whenever you stopped by. I was so shocked when you
asked me if Michael could go on the cross country trip with
you and the motorcycle club, I had to give it some thought,
and when I said yes, it was the greatest decision because
you and Michael got to spend a lot of quality time together,
and it was one of the greatest things you could have done
with your son. I remember when you used to come over and ask
Bryan to make the Harley #1’s for your motorcycle and for
Bryan to design a logo for the sides of your trailer. It’s a
shame you didn’t get to see the trailer the way it looks now
because you would have loved it and been proud of your son,
and I bet you would have drove that trailer everywhere and
flaunted your son’s good work, just like you always did. I
know you were very proud of our boys, and they knew it. This
past year and a half has been really tough on me and the
boys with the passing of my mom, your loss, and my two truck
accidents both not my fault, Michael breaking his collarbone
just as you had, and a lot of other little things. I knew
you’d appreciate the motorcycle hearse and having your bikes
at the funeral.
You’ll be on my mind, and the mind of the boys always, and I
hope you know that I loved you then, and I'll love you
forever. Your memory is still very much a part of our lives,
and you will not be forgotten. You would be proud of your
boys because they have done so much and grown so much since
you have passed, and you would be telling stories for days
to your friends about what they have accomplished. We love
you, and I wish you were here to be with us. So much has
changed...
Say ‘Hi’ to my Mom up
there…and you two stay out of trouble. Keep a watchful eye
over us, and we will all meet again soon.
- Nancy
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His Sisters...
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Sharon Palma
My
brother Scott was the next to last child born in our family. He
also was the tallest (all my brothers are 6 ft or more) at
6'7". When he was a toddler, my mom had two other boys to get
ready for school and she had my youngest brother, Jimmy also.
So I always remember before going to school my sister Fran and I
had to take one of the two (Scott or Jimmy) and get them up and
diapers changed before we went to school. Fran and I were 10 or
11 at the time.
When I became pregnant with my daughter, Kelly, I
remember thinking "please let this be a girl, I am tired of
changing boy's diapers".
I also can remember when I was at my house in Islip,
many times when Scott stopped by just to say hi and pass the
time. When he was ready to leave we would go to the front
door. My stairs were by the front door and while we were saying
our last goodbyes I used to always stand on the 2nd step so that
I could be at the same height as Scott.. That was the only way I
could look him straight in the eye without getting a "crick" in
my neck.
- Sharon
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Frances McKenna
When
Grandma and Grandpa Walt were moving down to North
Carolina, your Dad needed a place to live, since he was still
living home. He came over to talk to us about staying with us,
since we had a spare room. He sat down with Uncle Tom and asked
him if he could live here with us for awhile until he could save
up some money to get his own apartment. This was before your Mom
and Dad were married. Uncle Tom and I had already discussed
this, since Grandma Walt had already mentioned to us
that Scott might be asking us this.
Uncle Tom told him that he was welcome to stay here, but there
were a few rules that he should know about:
First- He had to make his
bed before he left for work (this apparently was not something
that he did on a regular basis at home)
Second- If he wasn't going
to be home for dinner he needed to let me know so that I
wouldn't worry about him. (Again - something he would forget to
do at home)
Third- No girls up in the
bedroom.
Fourth (and most important
rule of all according to Uncle Tom)- He had to remember that
outside of this home was a Democracy, but inside this home was a
monarchy and Uncle Tom was KING.
Of course, this last rule was a joke, and we all laughed about
it, but your dad was a good tenant and followed all of the
rules. He stayed with us for a few months and then your mom and
he got married and found an apartment in Bay Shore.
- Frances |
His
Bestfriend...
Mike Mannarino
I could probably spend
the next 5 years telling stories but I'll give you a few...
I remember the day Scott got his Wide Glide. I drove it home
for him from Oakdale Harley Davidson to my house. It started
to rain as soon as I pulled into my driveway. So we proceeded
back to Oakdale HD, then Bellmore HD, and then to Lighthouse
HD where Scott bought his helmet, jackets, boots, T shirts and
every other accessory that you could possibly buy for the bike
before he even took his first ride. The next day it rained,
so we put all the accessories on it. Finally two days later
he was able to take his first ride, up and down my street
until he got use to it. Then he never stopped riding.
Two years ago we went to Myrtle Beach for Bike Week. There
were six of us that traveled from New York, where we stayed in
Wilmington for a few days so my wife and I could take care of
some business. Scott was anxious to go to Myrtle Beach which
is only about 90 miles from Wilmington, but the weather
indicated scattered thunderstorms. So Scott was watching the
"Doppler" radar and was convinced it was not going to rain,
that it was going in the other direction. He was so adamant
that he was right and the "Doppler" was wrong, they headed to
Myrtle Beach. A few hours later, I got a call that they were
on the side of the road because it was raining so hard, they
couldn't see where they were going, in addition to having no
rain gear with them. We went with the car to meet them and
there they were the four of them sitting under someone's
awning wringing their socks out! Needless to say from that
day forward, we still teased him about the "Doppler".
Going way back when we were kids in BOCES taking auto body
class, I had a 1966 Ford van that he help me paint at home.
We use to take the van to BOCES which we weren't suppose to,
along with four or five other guys, we had to sneak out to the
parking lot to get the van while the buses where there to pick
everyone up to go home, and I remember coming from home from
BOCES in Bellmore going to down Sunrise Hwy and Scott's mom
pulling up next to the van in her school bus trying to look in
the windows, yelling is "Scott in there". Meanwhile, Scott is
hiding under a bunch of clothes I was suppose to drop off at
one of those "PAL" clothing boxes and me saying "no he's not
in there".
Last year he spent almost every night at our house, where he
became not a guest, but part of the family. I'd come out of
the shower to find him watching TV in the den. He even bought
our newly adopted dog his Harley collar! My wife would come
home from work and say "hi honeys, I'm home". He had diner
with us every night and he always cleaned up, so I had no
choice but to help to. After all was done, we would go riding
and end up at Starbuck's.
We had such good times together and have such wonderful
memories, we will never forget him. He is my best friend!
- Mike |
His
Niece...
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Kara McKenna
As
a child of about 6 or 7 all adults look big and larger then
life, but my Uncle Scott looked Gigantic to me. Over 6 foot 5
inches he was the tallest person I had ever seen in my life. He
was also my youngest Uncle on both sides of my family and was
only about 15 years older then me, so I saw him as the fun
uncle, who used to take me to the races out at
Riverhead Race Way or at
Islip
Speedway (before if closed).
Not a big fan of NASCAR
racing I found the racing part OK,
but I loved when he used to take us back into the pits, were I
would get to meet the Drivers and sit in the cars. But my
favorite thing about my Uncle Scott was when he would make me
Big. All children want to grow up fast, and as a 6 year old I
was no different, but my idea of growing up was to be as big as
my uncle. He would pick me up and place me on his
shoulders and walk me around
the house. I had to duck to go though doorways, and I could
touch the ceiling, and all ceiling
fans had to be shut off because I was BIG. I loved it, and in
my 6 year old mind I was important and grown up because I was as
big as he was. I cried the day he and I found out I was too big
to be pick up anymore. It was especially hard because my
sister (Robyn) and my cousin
(Kelly) were still small enough to be placed on his shoulders.
- Kara |
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