Town Crier Articles

Have you met Rob and Lisa Johnson?  They moved to New Town in March of 2016. They have two grown sons so Lisa says they are on their way to being empty nesters. They are also recent retirees…very active retirees. 

 

Rob, born in the Philippines grew up in New York, Arizona, and California moving to the “less shaky suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio” after the 1971 Los Angeles earthquake. Upon high school graduation, he began an underwater trajectory joining the Navy to work on nuclear submarines. During his military career, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, served as a Navy diver in the Reserves, became an Engineering Duty Officer in shipyards, dive lockers, and the Navy’s experimental diving unit before being promoted to an admiral’s staff. His days as an experimental diver have been compared to life as an “underwater guinea pig!”

 

Lisa grew up in Canton, Ohio and studied art history after high school. Her first job was at the Cleveland Museum of Art before meeting Rob and marrying “into the Navy.” Navy life for the Johnsons included living in Rhode Island, Florida (twice), South Carolina (twice), California, and the Philippines. They also lived for three years in Japan and then made their final military move to Newport News living there for 13 years.          Lisa was a busy mother and career woman running a family day care business, teaching classes from preschool to college level, working in a winery, serving as a bowling coach and running a youth league. After moving to Newport News, she became an historical interpreter on the 18thcentury farm at the Yorktown Victory Center; i.e. the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and then turned to the Historical Clothing Department sewing historically accurate clothing for the interpreters. She retired a year and a half ago. After being published and becoming editor of a base magazine, she is enjoying the time writing and taking art classes. 

 

Living in Japan prompted what Lisa calls “a three-year field trip” seeing as much of the country as possible. They also have gone “cross country” several times, and now have their sights set on Europe. After retiring from the Navy, Rob became a NJROTC teacher in York County schools and retired again this year now focusing on his love of motorcycles and bowling. As a member of the PBA in Japan, he became a Silver Level coach.  Besides his own activity in bowling leagues, he is now sharing his experience with the high school bowling league in York County.

 

Rob includes historical reenactment in his long list of interests. He joined Sykes’ Regulars, a Union Civil War unit and goes to events throughout the year. The Johnson’s sons share their father’s love of living history and became members of the Liberty Hall Fifes and Drums where they were field musicians. Their oldest son currently lives his dream job as an interpreter on the ships at Jamestown Settlement and after their younger son served in the Army and deployed to Afghanistan he soon will be graduating from Texas A&M in December. 

 

One reason for selecting New Town for their retirement is that they like the walkable neighborhood. The Johnson’s are sincere when they say, “Since moving to Charlotte Park we’ve loved how welcoming the neighborhood is and [we] have met many incredible and interesting neighbors.” Welcome to Rob and Lisa Johnson and family!