By Randawnique Coakley
The Saint Leo community lost of one of their own, Clarence H. Johnson, 41, from the Tampa Center; he was killed in a hit and run accident on Oct. 31 in Manatee County. According to Bradenton Herald, while he was “walking eastbound on the westbound lane of State Road 64 East,” Johnson was struck by a vehicle, identified as “a Ford Super Duty pickup truck or van,” and was killed. He was pronounced dead on the scene, reported Fox News. Johnson, of Temple Terrace, graduated from Jesuit High School and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s’ degree in history. He was a teacher, administrator, and director at Montessori schools. However, according to his obituary, Johnson took a sabbatical “to focus on his role as a father” and pursued his masters’ in Business Administrations from Saint Leo University at the Tampa Center.
A memorial service was held on Nov. 4, followed by a funeral mass which was held on Nov. 5. Johnson leaves behind his wife, Marlena O. Johnson, and children, Cezanne, Matisse, and Miro, as well as his parents, Sonia A. Johnson and Casper D. Johnson, and sisters. His memory will live on through them as well as a scholarship set up in his honor. A GoFundMe account, named the Clarence H. Johnson Scholarship, was established with the purpose to accept funds for a scholarship to be given to an underprivileged child to attend his alma mater, Jesuit High School. As of Nov. 7, six days after the GoFundMe page was set up, nearly $12,500 in donation from 109 people was accumulated, almost reaching his goal of $15,000.
