Nashville – Richard Francis Johnson Jr., born in Nashville on 5/22/1956 passed away unexpectedly at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on 5/20/2025 surrounded by loved ones. A graduate of Father Ryan High School and the University of Tennessee, Ricky is survived by Lynn Dodd Johnson, his wife of 46 years; children Shannon (Chris) Johnson and Tim Johnson; beloved grandchildren Wolf and Sloane; siblings Sharon (Wayne) Hutchens, Michael (Barb) Johnson, David (Karen) Johnson, Gina (Angelo) Canonico, and Michele (Jeff Hill) Johnson; and a long list of nieces and nephews.
For 35 years, Rick served as staff accountant for Shoney’s Corp./Captain D’s division. For the last seven years of his career, he was a senior accountant at Brookside Properties.
Ricky was passionate about his family, sports – especially Vanderbilt and The Yankees, music, and the Marx Brothers. He knitted together a tight and eclectic network of friends.
From his childhood until his death, Rick embraced the Vanderbilt Commodores as “his team”, holding season tickets to the three major sports for decades. He travelled near and far to support the Vandy Boys and enjoyed their recent victories from the hospital. His life was full of good times and good friends tailgating at his second home on the Vanderbilt campus.
Ricky lived and breathed music. His brothers recall going to bed many nights to the blare of the stereo in the bedroom the three of them shared. In more recent years, he hosted a weekly music thread posting songs and personal commentary, welcoming his friends to do the same. During his hospital stay, music remained a source of strength and comfort as loved ones played Ricky’s favorite tunes.
The family expresses deep gratitude to the VU Cardiac Care team for their compassionate care and for ensuring that ESPN was always on.
If you wish to do something to honor Rick, please consider a gift to the Tennessee Justic Center. There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.
For an extended obituary see Marshall Donnelly-Combs website.
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