JOHNSON, Christopher “Chris”

Age 51, of Wellesley, MA, passed away unexpectedly, on April 22, 2023.

Chris will be greatly missed by his adoring wife, Shannon Williams; and beloved children, Mathew and Charlotte Johnson; his extended family and friends, as well as the Dana Hall and Wellesley communities.

Chris was born on September

29, 1971, in San Francisco, CA. He graduated from Flintridge Preparatory High School in La Cañada Flintridge, CA. Chris received his undergraduate degree from the University of

California, San Diego, and a master’s degree in Teaching & Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Chris was passionate about all things French, from Joan of Arc to madeleine cookies to Telephone and everything in between. Mostly, he loved sharing the language he spoke so beautifully with his students at the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA, where he taught for 22 years.

He will be remembered for his love of sports, travel, history, film and sense of humor, either you laughed at his jokes or you had fun laughing about them. Above all, he will be remembered for his love for his wife and children.

Chris is also survived by his mother, Janice Barnum; and stepfather, Jerome Barnum; father, Dr. Laurence Johnson; brother, Ryan (Jennifer) Johnson; mother-in-law, Kathleen Williams; sister-in-law, Heather (Patrick) Keating, and cherished nieces and nephew.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at Dana Hall, in Bardwell Auditorium, on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. We will have a short Memorial Service, followed by time to gather together and share memories of Chris.

A GoFundMe memorial fund has been established by friends and family. Donations will directly support his wife and children as they navigate this new chapter in their lives. Donation Link, gofund.me/dffa9965 For online guestbook and full obituary, please visit, gfdoherty.com