Kenneth R. Johnson, Jr.

Kenneth R. Johnson, Jr. 47, of Cambridge and formerly of South Dennis, passed away on February 12, 2024 with family at his side at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge from complications following a stroke.

Ken is survived by his parents, Kenneth and Katherine (Kate) Johnson, his sister Megan Warfield, her husband, Bill and his beloved nephew Cameron.

He was a graduate of Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School, and a 1999 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a Bachelor of Science degree in sport management.

His first job after college was at Brown University where he learned the sport management business from his mentor, Chris Humm.  He was Sports Information Director at Manhattanville College, the University of Bridgeport, St. Anselm College and Assumption University.  For the past eight years, he has been Director of Communications, Promotions and Marketing for the Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation (DAPER) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  He loved MIT and all their 33 sports teams.  He especially enjoyed working with the MIT student-athletes.  In 2023 he received a College Sports Communicators award for 25 years in the athletic communications field.  He was an active member of several professional organizations throughout the years including CoSIDA, ECACSIDA (now East-Comm) and the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

Over the years, he developed many enduring friendships throughout the country.  He will be dearly missed by his family and friends for his generosity, loyalty, sense of humor and enthusiasm for sports.

Ken enjoyed traveling, was an avid golfer and finished three marathons including New York City.

Donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the “Make A Wish Foundation” 133 Federal Street 2nd Floor Boston, MA 02110  https://wish.org/massri

A remembrance of Ken will be held on Thursday, February 22nd from 4-8 pm at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street, Natick, MA.  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.  

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