Anthony G. Johnson

Anthony B. Johnson, aka Toney Boyce Taylor, born April 26, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, at rest October 13, 2025. Cremation private.

Son of the late John J. Taylor and the late Lillian Donaldson, brother of the late James Gatewood, brother-in-law of Ann Gatewood of Nashville, Tennessee; uncle of the late Sara (Michael) Griffith, Thomas Gatewood, and the late Roberto Gatewood, great-uncle of Macia (Dontae) Nelson and Steven Griffith.

He graduated from John Marshall High School in Chicago, attended Wilbur Wright College (where he was on the Dean’s List), and obtained an associate’s degree from Truman College. He obtained a certificate in Advanced Data Processing at the latter institution. He went on to obtain a certificate in Computer Programming.

Tony described himself in a 1990 resume as “Dependable, can be counted on to get the job done. Motivated to learn and grow in responsibility and skills. Gets along well with others.” He also stated that he had a “general working knowledge of business machines and a wide range of manual skills.”  After previous jobs as a warehouseman, janitor’s helper, and assembler, he worked as a histopathology technician at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital for almost 20 years. He dedicated his life to helping veterans and pathology residents during 14-hour work days. He received a Special Contribution Award and several Performance Awards.  This dedicated and conscientious employee was always willing to help others and made many friends as he walked the halls of the hospital picking up surgical specimens. He was avid reader and enjoyed books regarding Abraham Lincoln, U.S. Grant, and Civil War battles.  He collected antique books about history, poetry, mathematics, science, art, fiction and non-fiction literature. He brought suitcases full of books to give to coworkers in the various laboratories at Hines VA Hospital. He handed out newspapers, toys, collectible coins, and DVDs after he learned of everyone’s interests.  He tried to learn several foreign languages including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Czech, Latin, Thai, and Tagalog. He was known for greeting everyone who came into the Histology Laboratory with “Magandang umaga” (“Good morning” in Tagalog). He enjoyed playing war strategy games in his spare time and loved the sci-fi movie “Blade Runner”.  He was a generous man who often gave away gifts given to him. This trait continued during his 6 years in Bridgeway Senior Living’s Memory Care Unit and led to some lost library books from the Bensenville Library, missing packages of herbal teas… 

Tony will be remembered for his dedication to U.S. veterans, generosity, and love of history. He can finally rest from his labors and be free of his physical ailments.

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