Johnston, Chris

Chris was born in Beaver City, Nebraska and grew up in Paxton, Illinois. He attended Culver Military Academy and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He volunteered for a tour of Duty in Vietnam with the US Army. As a First Lieutenant, he supervised a radio and machine repair shop and earned a Bronze Star for his service.  He earned a graduate degree in Business Administration from Boston University.

He met Vicky Hartley at Cambridge and in 1970 they were married on the front lawn of the Hartley house on Great Cranberry. Two years later he built “The Barn” with his two hands, block and tackle, and lots of help from island friends.

Vicky and Chris wintered in Newton and then Andover, Mass. Chris worked at Varian Associates In Lexington. Chris was an avid volunteer for various non-profits: Habitat for Humanity, Fidelity house and Christ Church, Andover. Chris loved sailing and with Vicky and their children, Meg and Alex. He explored the waters from Boston Harbor to Nova Scotia.

Vicky and Chris retired to Portland, bringing them even closer to Cranberry Island.  After Vicky’s death, Chris devoted himself to Cranberry Island volunteering for the Great Cranberry Island Historical Society, the Cranberry Island Realty Trust, and the Cranberry Island Congregational church.  He loved telling stories about the island either while manning the reception desk of the Historical Society or driving the shuttle.  He loved to point out the tennis court where the Wimbleberry is played and the Victory cocktail party was held at his house afterward.