Edwin ‘Ed’ Johnson, 74

 The sports community is mourning Edwin “Ed” Johnson, who passed away last Monday due to a lingering illness.

He was 74.

“Ed was certainly an avid tennis player. He loved to talk tennis and play the game. He coached his daughter Melody in her formative years. He loved to play in the men’s open singles division and always thought he had a chance to win. Unfortunately, his long illness kept him off the court. But he was happy to see Melody’s successes, as she has been one of the top junior players in our region for some time. Ed met his wife, Delia, at the courts and along with stepson Johnny, they have all been an important family in our tennis community,” Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association president Jeff Race said.

Johnson was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006 when he went away on a trip to Gold Coast, Australia for the World Masters Games. In the Land Down Under, he played for Guam in the 60-and-above basketball competition and his team made it to the finals against Russia.

“We lost in the finals by eight points and settled for a silver medal. Ed said he never won a medal in off-island competitions, so the one we had in Gold Coast in 2006 was his first. Ed was a very good player who loved to hustle a lot. When he was called out to play, he gave his best in every game, especially on defense,” said CNMI referee Arnold Mesa, who coached Johnson in the 2006 competition.

After being diagnosed with leukemia, Johnson left Saipan with his family to seek treatment in Florida. While in Florida, Johnson coached a wheelchair tennis team.

He returned to Saipan in 2009 after a brief recovery and even played in the doubles competition in the 9th Annual PIC Tennis Championships.

Besides tennis and basketball, Johnson was also involved in athletics.

Northern Marianas Athletics head coach Elias Rangamar said Johnson was the first president of an athletics group in the Commonwealth.

“He is a great loss to the sports community. Ed always found time to help out in athletics, basketball, and tennis tournaments,” Rangamar said.

When not playing, Johnson did umpiring duties in tennis competitions and officiated basketball games in the private school league.

Johnson’s daughter, Melody, said his father’s passion in sports influenced her to join various competitions, and excel in them. Melody played for the CNMI U15 Team that won the silver medal in the 2011 Micronesian Basketball Tournament in Palau in June last year. She then represented the CNMI in the 2011 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in Fiji last month, joining the same tournament for the third time. Melody also plays soccer and futsal.

“He was the one who pushed me to work harder on my games. It’s hard that he won’t be around in my games, but I will continue to play and make him proud,” Melody said.

“For all that you are Ed, thanks for the great memories and friendship. May the angels meet and guide your ship on a tranquil journey to the land of paradise,” Johnson’s wife, Delia, said.

Johnson, a former merchant marine captain, will be buried at sea this Saturday.