Curtiss S. Johnson Jr. of West Shore Ave., Groton Long Point, CT died September 4th at his home with his family at his bedside. He was born in Hartford, CT, March 27, 1925. Curt attended school in Westport, CT, Guilford CT, and at Yale. He enjoyed spending his summers working on a farm in Cummington, MA during his teen years. He then served in the US Marine Corps in the South Pacific during WW II. Returning from the War, he apprenticed for Naval Architect Winthrop (Wink) Warner of Middletown, CT. Curt’s first commission was to design the Chester Ferry which is still in service on the Connecticut River. He went on to become Chief Engineer at the Standard Knapp division of the Emhart Corporation in Portland, CT.

Curt’s love of sailing and mechanical aptitude led him to start C. Sherman Johnson Co in 1958. This was at the time when boats were going from wood to fiberglass and hardware went from brass and bronze to stainless steel. Curt was on the cutting edge designing all kinds of new fittings in stainless steel, which led to numerous patents for his simple yet innovative designs of marine and architectural hardware.
 
Curt and his wife, Elsie, were married for 53 years and made their home in Middle Haddam, CT for 45 years. They enjoyed spending their summers at Groton Long Point, CT. During this time Curt served on many community boards and committees. His interests were wide and varied; he served as Commodore of the Middletown Yacht Club, and was a member of the Baldwin Bridge Yacht Club, the Essex Yacht Club, Off Soundings, the Groton Long Point Yacht Club and the Ram Island Yacht Club. His memberships also included the Stonington Country Club, Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport, Mystic Seaport Art Gallery. He was one of the founders of the Connecticut River Museum, in Essex, CT.

When Curt retired in 1998 he wanted nothing more then to have his two sons take over the business which we run today with the help of our sister. Our father and founder is greatly missed, but Dad left our family with a great legacy in C. Sherman Johnson Co.