Coates Richard Johnson

Athens, GA - Coates Richard Johnson, 81, of Athens, GA, died April 25, 2014. Born on March 19, 1933, his childhood address was 34 Hillcrest Rd. West Caldwell, NJ. A 1951 graduate of Grover Cleveland High School, he was the son of the late Coates L. Johnson, former Assistant Superintendent and Principal of Caldwell Public Schools and a West Caldwell Town Councilman, and mother, Helen Warne Johnson. He is survived by a sister, Doris H. Stade and brother-in-law Arthur K. Stade of Sarasota, FL, nieces Sharon L. Stade of Chicgo, IL and Cheryl A. Stade of Bethesda, MD, and longtime friend, Helen Epps, of Athens, formerly of Kingstree, SC.
Dr. Johnson received his undergraduate degree from MIT in 1955 where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. He received his MA (1957) and PhD (1963) degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. He served as a faculty member in the Physics Department at the University of Georgia from 1966 until his retirement to Emeritus status in 1998. Following retirement, Dr. Johnson continued his research in theoretical physics. He was an expert on Einstein's unified field theory.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 6, 3:00 pm at Lord and Stephens Chapel, East.
Memorials may be made to The MIT Memorial Fund of Coates R. Johnson '55, and mailed to Bonny Kellemann '72, Director of Memorial Gifts, 600 Memorial Drive, W98-500, Cambridge, MA 02139; The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2450 S. Milledge Ave., Athens, GA 30605, or may be designated to Presbyterian Homes Athens-Oconee, and mailed to Presbyterian Homes of Georgia, 3675 Crestwood Parkway, Suite 370, Duluth, GA 30096.