Shirley L. Johnson (nee Griffin), 88, of Downers Grove, died of pneumonia on March 2, 2024 at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. Born in Lombard, she grew up in Villa Park and graduated in 1954 from York High School in Elmhurst. She attended Elmhurst College and worked for 17 years in advertising for Miles Laboratories in Naperville. She married Willis Johnson in 1977 as they began to acquire, renovate and operate suburban movie theaters, which today total 16 venues and 137 screens, including the Lake Theatre in Oak Park, under the auspices of Classic Cinemas.
Shirley advocated for the inclusion of foreign, independent, and art films, which led to the First Tuesday Club at The Lake.
According to Mark Mazrimas, former marketing director for Classic Cinemas, “The art films had a tougher time to get on screen, so to appease some of the people that were complaining, Shirley created this film series in Oak Park that would have showings at 1 o’clock and another showing at 7.” She worked with a committee of local volunteers who helped suggest films.
She also worked with community organizations and nonprofit groups to make the theater available for fundraisers, concerts, children’s films during the summer, school groups, and holiday films at Christmas time.
She retired from full-time work with the theater chain in 2018 but stayed involved in the business.
Shirley is survived by Willis Johnson, who died last August; her stepson, Chris Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Willis Johnson. She is survived by her stepson, Chris Johnson, who now runs the theater chain; her son, Rich Winters; her daughter, Mary Reichl; four stepchildren, Stephen Johnson, Kay Johnson, Wendy Leick and Amy Balicki; and 14 grandchildren.
Services have been held.