Kirby Johnson remembered for civic spirit

In his final civic contribution, Kirby Johnson assured the holiday spirit was on display here amid the COVID-19 pandemic with his donation of a striking blue spruce Christmas tree for Gilkey Square.

Town employees this week removed the tree, which had drawn many admirers, signaling the end of the holiday season.

But its donor, who passed unexpectedly Dec. 10, at age 79, remained much on people’s minds, among them those crediting Johnson for having made it possible to buy homes and reside in the La Conner area.

A La Conner High and Stanford University grad, Johnson was the longtime broker at La Conner Realty & Investment, where retired realtor and former mayor and council member Dan O’Donnell said the overriding emphasis was on customer service.

“Whether a buyer or seller,” O’Donnell told the Weekly News, “his (Johnson’s) concern was whether the customer’s needs were met. He often reduced commissions to ensure that end.”

Rick Dole is just one of those satisfied customers.

“Kirby sold us our house,” said Dole, “He was so nice. I remember it was on Father’s Day and the garage was still kind of a mess. He, his wife Pam, and son Steve came down and cleaned out the garage. It was so nice of them. They didn’t have to do it.”

In a recent social media posts, local residents Suzie Racanello, Chris McCarthy, and Jennifer Rosmarin echoed those sentiments.

“When I first started working as a real estate loan officer 25 years ago,” Rosmarin said, “Kirby and the agents at La Conner Realty were the first ones to give me a shot. (He was) a very nice fellow.”

“He found this property for us,” said Racanello, a Pleasant Ridge resident. “He thought the person who owned it might want to sell. I always thanked him. He was very nice to us.”

“He was a great guy,” McCarthy added, “and always kind to my family.”

O’Donnell said Johnson, who had earlier established Farms Northwest, Inc. with his brothers, Curtis and Greg, brought a hometown flavor to local real estate.

“It was an easy time,” said O’Donnell. “No pressure, but good results. Kirby let everyone know that the customer was always right.”

Real estate was just one of Johnson’s many pursuits. Agriculture, music, sports and vintage vehicles (which he often entered in area parades) were others, to name a few.

As late as the early 1990s, Johnson suited up to play in La Conner High alumni basketball games at Landy James Gym. It was during that period that Johnson, who for decades served as president of the Puget Sound Growers Association, joined his brothers in helping lead the way in use of track technology to reduce soil compaction.

Another signature trait, all agree, was his distinctly wry sense of humor, which Johnson was able to apply to most any situation or topic.

But he always took seriously his role as the face of La Conner Realty.

“The significant thing,” O’Donnell stressed, “was that in 40 years as a broker, Kirby never got sued. He was a good and honest real estate professional who valued the community and always contributed to its betterment.”

And did so up until the end. His donation of the Town Christmas tree, coming during a time of COVID-19 anxiety, was appreciated beyond measure.

“The Town,” Mayor Ramon Hayes said on Sunday, “is extremely grateful to citizens for their generosity and what Kirby did, especially now, in light of his passing, is something that will always be considered very special for our community.”