WIC Remembers Deborah Johnson

WIC Leadership Team member Deborah Johnson died July 24, 2007, following a serious brain injury she sustained in a bike accident. Her wishes in such a circumstance were to be an organ donor, which she was able to do through Stanford University Hospital.

"Deborah made great contributions to the speaker program this year with her co-chair Lee Raney. We all feel the devasting loss of someone we knew personally and respected professionally," said Karilee Wirthlin, WIC President.

"Deb and I had been recently working together as part of her planned transition to full-time consulting," said Carol Blanchar, a WIC member. "Typically, she joined WIC and was already actively contributing as a committee co-chairman - and making friends. Throughout her career at HP, where we both worked, Deb moved across functions and organizations and upward through the ranks to highest management levels, combining technical depth with broad knowledge, always working consultatively, always the consummate professional. Her insights, energy, and commitment will continue to inspire my own work and life, and I know that she lives on in all the many lives she touched."

"Deborah and I met at HP in 1983, and then re-connected in the past two years," said Deborah Plumley, Director of Membership. "She was multi-talented, and a most genuine person - free of pretense, true to her Colorado roots. Deborah loved WIC and was dedicated to her role as speaker co-chair. It was important for her to make a contribution to the organization," she said.

"She was really enjoying her volunteer role," said Lee Raney, co-chair of the Speaker Committee. "She was such a pleasure to partner with on the WIC Speaker Committee, always easy-going and easy-to-work with, as many of you already knew."

A memorial reception in Deborah's honor will be held on Friday, August 17, 2007 from 2:30-5:00 p.m. at the Quadrus Conference Center, 2400 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA.

The WIC Leadership Team will work with Deborah's husband, John Gerrity, to identify an appropriate way for the organization to honor Deborah and her important contributions to WIC. We'll post details on the WIC website when they are available.

Here is more information about Deborah and her life in the full obituary provided by her husband.

Deborah K. Johnson, 1952-2007 (PDF)