West Virginia University Mourns the Loss of Longtime Educator Dorothy Johnson
Dorothy Johnson, a prominent figure in the field of nursing education, passed away unexpectedly on August 3, 2026. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Johnson dedicated over three decades to the West Virginia University School of Nursing, where she served as an administrator, teacher, and mentor. Her work primarily focused on psychiatric-mental health nursing, adolescent mental health, trauma recovery, and community-based care. Johnson was a member of the nursing honorary, Sigma Theta Tau, and retired with emeritus status in 2013. Known for her adventurous spirit, she learned to fly in her late 60s and often co-piloted with her partner, Fred Kafka. Johnson's legacy is marked by her commitment to education, her Armenian heritage, and the deep connections she maintained with family and friends.