Community Partners
 

 

George F. Johnson Society

The George F. Johnson Society is named for the man many believe has had the greatest impact on Broome County. Born in Milford, Massachusetts, in 1857, his first local job was in 1881 in a section of a Binghamton shoe factory as the supervisor of a work crew. Nine years later he became superintendent of that company’s new plant, which was located in the community of Lestershire and has been described as the largest factory of its kind in the entire world. In 1899, Johnson became co-owner of the business, which was renamed the Endicott-Johnson Co. Under his presidency, the company grew to eight factories in Broome County, employing about 10,000.

Until he died in 1948, Johnson saw to it that Endicott-Johnson employees were treated better than most other workers of that era. He valued his employees and had the company build high quality homes for them (which the employees could buy for rates as low as $7 per week, with an interest rate of only 1 percent). The company also created parks (containing swimming pools and carousels that anyone could ride for free), medical facilities, restaurants, libraries, and recreational facilities—all designed to provide high quality goods and services to the employees for free or at a low cost. All the while Endicott-Johnson was highly profitable.

In grateful appreciation, the residents of Lestershire renamed their community Johnson City in 1916, and the employees of Endicott-Johnson built two arches over the area’s main road in the early 1920s, one at the entrance to Johnson City and the other in Endicott, stating that they were the gateways to the "Square Deal Towns."

The George F. Johnson Society recognizes the support of community leaders for health and human services funded by  United Way of Broome County. All individuals contributing $1,000 or more in a single year to United Way’s annual campaign are eligible for membership. Gifts to the George F. Johnson Society are credited to the appropriate employee group campaign and/or division. Gifts of $10,000 and above now qualify the donor for membership in the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.

Since its inception in 1987, the George F. Johnson Society has grown from the 53 members it had in its first year.  

George F. Johnson Society Members for 2008 Campaign
Gold ($5,000 to $9,999):
Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Gault 
Marilyn Hewson +
Shirley W. Keller 
David J. Maines
William R. Maines 
Edward Rompala 
Ken & Sue Spink ^
Jim & Joan Walsh ^

Silver ($2,500 to $4,999):
Anonymous (1)
David L. Adour Esq. +
Dick & Betsy Aswad 
David & Kim Ayers 
Frank E. Berrish 
Bruce & Cheryl Boyea 
Mr. & Mrs. C. A. Cleveland Jr.
Kenneth L. & Beth A. Coleman
Honorable Mary Rita Connerton
Thomas & Patricia Davis
Larry & Gina Denniston
Robert & Marie Gomulka 
Jim & Jean Gow
Nancy & Rich Hopf 
Charles & Patricia Ingraham
Dale & Hank McGlynn
Frank & Carol Meyer ^
Sam & Cheryl Monachino ^
Eugene E. and Judith C. Peckham 
Thomas E. Rattmann
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Russell 
Lola Ford Schumann ^
Steve & Laura Trichka 

Bronze ($1,000 to $2,499):
Anonymous (30)
Glenn W. & Jennifer Ackerman  
Ferris & Louise Akel 
George & Sally Akel 
Ronald & Beth Akel 
Dalya Y. Alkass-Blaise & Oliver N. Blaise III 
Peter & Beth Altmann 

Patricia Beaudoin +
Bruce & Harriet Becker
Thomas Behonick +
Carol Belva
Jane & Bill Berical 
Susan L. & Oliver N. Blaise Jr.
Barbara C. Blossom
Daniel Bohan +
Marilyn & Allan Bombard
Sean M. Bond 
Michele Boyle & Allen Alt +
Jack & Pamela Brayton 
Nancy & Charles Brink *
Margaret Brinker +
Danielle M. Bulger +
Al & Jody Buyck

David J. & Mary Beth Cahill
Mark & Patricia Capobianco 
Bob & Agnes Carey 
Joan & Don Carlin 
John & JoAnn Carrigg 
Loretta & Jim Carrigg 
Kathy & Ron Charsky
Gary & Jana Chavoustie 
Michael Chewens +
Pamela L. Christina 
John A. Clark 
Judith E. Clark 
Michael Cohen & Judy West
Bruno & Jane Colapietro +
Donald Conklin
Mrs. Richard W. Couper
Dr. Edward & Jacaqueline Cox
Bruce Crozier +
Dave Culbertson 

Jyoti & Dr. Rajesh Dave'
Lois DeFleur 
Dr. & Mrs. Christopher Demtrak
Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Denham 
Marjorie & Kamlesh Desai 
John & Eve DiMenna
Mr. & Mrs. Dean DiTommaso 
Rev. & Mrs. H. Arthur Doersam 
Millicent Drew 
Frederick DuFour +

Sanda Lee Englehart
Patricia A. Ewing

James Felmet 
John & Colleen Fitzsimmons
Don & Carolyn Flanagan 
Frank & Colette Floyd 
Brian & Lesley Frey +
 
Jim Garceau +
Stephen & Linda Gardner
Richard & Kathleen Gilbert 
Dr. Francis & Joyce Gilroy
Phillip A. Ginter +
Karen J. Goodman 
Al & Kristi Gorick 
Peter & Elaine Gorton 
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Grambling Jr. 
Dr. Steven Grossman
Thomas & Elysia Gudas
Emmanuel & Melissa Guizano
 
Bob & Marian Hansen 
Dr. Jonathan Harris & Ms. Gloria Block 
Bonnie Henderson 
Alan & Dawn Hertel +
Robert A. Hess +
Chris & Wendy Hill 
Eric Hills
Michael J. Hills 
Steve & Darlene Hissong 
Paul R. & Nadine K. Hoffmann 
Cornelia & John Hogan 
Thomas & Christine Hoke 
Jack Houseknecht 
Brian J. Hull +
 
Michelle M. Jeavons 
Dale & Maryann Johnson 
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas R. Johnson
Frithiof V. Johnson
Christopher M. Jones
Diane & James Julian
 
Joseph Kane 
Thomas Kane +
John & Marcella Keeler
Dr. Thomas F. & Nancy Kay Kelly 
William & Lisa Kelly
Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence A. Kiley +
David Kimiecik +
Robin Kinslow-Evans & Edward Evans 
Jim Kloman +
William & Beth Knecht 
John & Linda Knudson + 
Julianne M. Koromhaz
John S. Kresge

Jeff & Cindy Lake
John Leet 
Ronald W. & Diane M. Lesch
Charles Lesko +
Allan & Diana Lyons 
Christopher C. Lyons 

Ron Materese +
Richard & Deborah S. Matsushima 
Marianne & Richard N. Matties
Marilyn & Peter McGinn 
Kevin J. McKeown
Fra & Mark McManus + 
Michael McNally 
Roger McVannan 
Michael Mele +
James & Christina Mellema
Mike & Joyce Mercincavage
Charles Miller 
Joshua & Heather Miller +
Judith & Kenneth Miller 
Susan & Steve Miller 
Mr. & Mrs. Wendell H. Miller 
Bill & Sandy Mitchell 
Pat & Lori Molina 
Allen Moring
Pat & Anne Morris
Maria & Jerry Motsavage 
Jim Mulligan +
Timothy C. & Kim A. Myers

Vince & Camille Natale
David & Ellen Niefer
Dr. & Mrs. Orville F. Nielsen +
David Niermeyer (Niermeyer Foundation) 
Beth Norton +
 
Teresa O'Connell 
Edward & Kelly O'Connor +
James and Terry Orband
Dr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Oven

Howell & Susan Palmer
Michael Peters +
James Petko +
Elaine Petrik  
Tam & Diane Pham 
Wade Phelan + 
Sheila & Kevin Pierson
Ed & Betsy Pietriyk +
Robert Pipher 
John Pollock +

Amarjit S. Rai 
Rajinder Rai +
Stephen Ramsey +
Mark & Sally Reed
Charles & Judith Rhodes +
William H. & Audree F. Rincker * 
Christopher Ritter & Marilyn Tallerico +
Peter & Susan Ronan
Trudy L. Rose 
Peggy Rubin +
David & Naomi Rupright +
 
Lennart A. Saaf +
Matt & Mary Ellen Salanger 
Bill & Pam Scannell +
James & Gail Scott 
Dr. John W. Sharpless 
Winslow T. Shearman 
Richard & Margaret Sheehan 
Everett & Karen Shimp 
Helen J. Shulman 
Kate & Brian Sickora +
Dr. & Mrs. Ehtisham U. Siddiqui 
Arthur B. & Suzanne B. Siegel + 
Ronald & Sue Simons
Dennis & Julie Slattery 
Joseph & Peggy Slavik 
John G. & Judith A. Spencer 
Dr. John F. Spring
Chris Strahm
Susan Surgent +
Michelle Suer +
Dennis & Linda Sweeney 

Dr. & Mrs. James Terzian 
Jennifer & Douglas Thrall
David Tomasko +
John & Mary Trumble 
Kent & Barbara W. Turner * 

Dr. & Mrs. James Vincens

Terry Walsh
Thomas & Sarah Walsh 
Lynn & Dave Warne 
Dr. & Mrs. Michael J. Wasco 
Dr. James W. & Mrs. Evelyn F. Wasson
John B. & Jacqueline T. Westcott 
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Westcott +
Mrs. Cynthia H. Wetjen 
MaryAnn & Jim Wilcox

Paul & Michele Zurawel +

* Donated by the Community Foundation for South Central New York from Named Donor Advisory Fund 
+ New this year
^ Moved up to this level this year

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Updated: July 24, 2009