Former Menlo park city manager saluted for lifetime of achievement Former Menlo park city manager saluted for lifetime of achievement (April 27, 2005)

His professional experience, volunteer work and achievements take up several pages.

So it seems fitting that former Menlo Park city manager John Johnson should be among the seven people receiving Lifetimes of Achievement awards from the Avenidas senior center in Palo Alto.

A 1947 graduate of Stanford University, Mr. Johnson was Menlo Park's assistant city manager from 1952 to 1958 and then its city manager until 1964.

Before retiring in 1991, he was also, among other things, vice president of administration at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, president of the Stanford Alumni Association, a board trustee at the Channing House retirement community in Palo Alto and a member of the business advisory board at Santa Clara University.

In a press release, Avenidas officials said the award recipients were chosen for their "outstanding achievements" and "exemplary commitment and service to the community."

They singled out Mr. Johnson for the key role he played in the nearly decade-long merger of the Palo Alto Medical Clinic and the Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation into PAMF.

A resident of The Sequoias in Portola Valley, Mr. Johnson is married to Phyllis and has two children and two grandchildren.

Also being honored at the awards reception on May 22 are Jeanne Kennedy, an advisory board member of the Allied Arts Guild and former director of community and patient relations at Stanford Hospital; Virginia Debs, a longtime advocate for early childhood education; Arthur Fong, an innovator and philanthropist; retired finance executive Merrill Newman; and Ellen and Tom Wyman, who have created many grassroots community programs.

The reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the garden of a Palo Alto home. Tickets are $65 per person and may be bought by calling 326-5362, extension 35. Proceeds benefit Avenidas programs.

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