Memorial Blood Drive Marked by Sadness of New Loss
Sep 30, 2024 11:17PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Matt Johnson, left, and Mike Johnson. Photos courtesy of the Johnson family.
An annual blood drive honoring Manhattan Beach's Matt Johnson, who passed away at age 14, will be marked by the sadness of a new loss this year following the passing of Matt's father, Mike Johnson.
Matt Johnson was a Manhattan Beach teenager who succumbed to leukemia in the year 2000. Each October for the past 24 years, his family has held a blood drive in his memory.
This year, however, the community is also mourning the loss of Michael "Mike" Johnson, a lifelong Manhattan Beach resident, who passed away on September 16 at age 82.
The Manhattan Fire Department, the Johnson family, and the American Red
Cross will honor Matt’s - and now Mike's - memory with a blood drive on Saturday, October 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Sunday, October 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The blood drive will be held at the Manhattan Beach Fire Department, just outside the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair.
To give blood, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and use sponsor code MattJohnson to make an appointment.
Younger Johnson Was Junior Lifeguard
Matt,
a junior lifeguard from Manhattan Beach, loved surfing and helping
others. At the age of 12, he was diagnosed with leukemia and bravely
battled the illness for two years before passing away in 2000. To keep
his memory alive, Matt’s family, friends, and community members
encourage people to donate blood and give the gift of life in his honor.
“Before
Matt fell ill, I never truly grasped the immense significance of blood
donations, despite my mom, Matt’s Granny, being a dedicated donor well
into her senior years,” said his mother, Thais Johnson. “It fills me with pride
that this blood drive, held in such a public space, not only raises
community awareness but also gathers lifesaving blood in Matt’s
cherished memory.”
Mike Johnson Was Beloved Community Member
Matt's father Mike was a lifelong and beloved community member in Manhattan Beach, known to many for his friendly demeanor as the "Mayor" of 4th Street. He was an especially familiar face at the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair, where he was a longtime leader and volunteer.
Mike attended Grand View Elementary, American Martyrs School, and then Mira Costa High School, graduating in 1961. An Army veteran, he worked in the aerospace industry before working in real estate and property management.
Married to Thais for more than 40 years, he was the father of Jeannine, Jeffrey, Jennifer, Matthew, and Megan. His oldest son Jeffrey also tragically passed away in 2015.
"Mike was the sweetest man in the world," Thais Johnson told MB News this week.
A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday at American Martyrs Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mike Johnson may be made to American Martyrs Church here.
