Robert W. Johnston, 84, died Saturday, June 23, 2018, in hospice care at Massachusetts General Hospital were he had been battling an illness for the past three months. Robert leaves behind his wife Shirley (Pruneau) of Newton, MA, of 63 years; three children, Robert L. Johnston and wife Cindy of Woonsocket, RI, Laurie (Johnston) Levy and husband Michael of Boylston, MA, and daughter-in-law Lauren Johnston, wife of the late William Johnston of Norwood, MA, as well as grandchildren Sean and Robert F. Johnston of Norwood, MA, Casey and Allison Johnston of Norwood, MA, Rachel and Elisha Levy of Boylston, MA, Molly Johnston of Arlington, MA, and Chelsea and Kelly Russell of Woonsocket, RI, and his late sisters Wallena Price of Chicago, IL, and Jean Patey of Watertown, MA.

Born In Brighton, Massachusetts on August 21, 1933 to the parents of William and Elizabeth Johnston. Robert graduated from Brighton High School, became an auto mechanic and owned his own business. He was drafted into the army during the Korean War where he was a master mechanic and head of an auto pool near the front lines of the war. After the war, he went on to work at Tilitson Rubber where he became a design engineer, designing multiple machinery one of which would make playtex gloves in high process. He continued to work in the manufacturing industry including Black & Webster, a design/build corporation.

As his life progressed, he grew a passion for the game of tennis that he played up until his illness. Robert will be known for his ability to self teach himself and reason through issues.

A private memorial service is being held in celebration of his life.