Robert Johnson
Nov 11, 1947 -
May 17, 2026
Longtime Alaskan and attorney Robert "Rob" Johnson, 78, passed away from cancer in New York City. He had a life of professional accomplishment and adventure with family and friends.
Rob came to Alaska in 1969, when he arrived to fight forest fires. A graduate of Claremont McKenna College (1969) and Stanford Law School (1974), he joined the Alaska Attorney General's Office that same year. Two years later, his restless curiosity carried him overseas. He ultimately set foot in more than 140 countries; always a traveler.
His career led him back to Anchorage, where he returned to the AG's Office and was appointed Director of Petroleum Revenue just as Alaska's oil wealth transformed the state. After his service as Director, he entered private practice with his dear friend Eric Wohlforth for more than three decades. Rob stood at the forefront of labor and retirement law, later serving as trustee and elected chairman of the Alaska Retirement Management Board, overseeing more than $50 billion in assets for Alaska's retirees. His legal work also shaped landmark matters, including the Exxon Valdez case and pivotal oil-tax litigation.
Beyond the law, Rob lived with purpose. Raised in the Sierra Nevadas, he found his second wilderness in Alaska. With camping and hiking, he was never far from the trail. He was an expert philatelist with an impressive collection and a framed Penny Black. He was an avid reader with an extensive library built by hand. He played basketball into his 70s, known for dropping 3's and trash talking those dudes at the gym. Road trips and long drives connected him with friends and family across the country.
Ridgecrest, Calif., in the heart of the Mojave, was always home. Rob never really left, because he always returned.
He is survived by his son, Nathan and daughter-in-law Lisa; sister, Joyce and nieces Sadie and Angie of Juneau, Alaska; beloved partner, Evalyn Stone of NYC; and dear friends the Randolph family and Gene St. Amand. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stan and Dot Johnson of China Lake, Calif.
Memorial services will be held in Ridgecrest when the summer cools.
