Scott Vincent Johnson, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away peacefully at home on October 17 after a long battle with cancer. He was 53. Born on September 26, 1959 to Everett and Gloria Johnson, Scott grew up on Friends Street, attended Palisades Elementary and Paul Revere Junior High, and graduated from Palisades High in 1978. A consummate athlete, Scott turned his childhood love of motorcycles into a career as a professional motocross racer, winning the number-one plate in Southern California in 1980. After earning national number 93 in 1981, Scott was signed by German manufacturer Maico to contest the 1982 AMA Supercross and Motocross National Championships. In 1984, Johnson moved to Belgium to race and became the first American to win the Belgian national title. Scott also represented America in three United States Grand Prix at Carlsbad Raceway (1983, 1985, 1986). Returning to Belgium in 1987, Scott remained a consistent top finisher and as the token American enjoyed a strong fan base, which in no small way was due his friendly and approachable personality. After officially retiring from professional racing, Scott followed the career path of his father, Everett (founder of Johnson & Sons Trees) and became certified arborist #600, eventually taking over his father’s business, Bay Cities Tree Preservation. Scott continued to serve the community as his father had before him, building a strong reputation and loyal clientele, many of whom came to regard Scott as a friend. During this period Scott, a true outdoorsman and lover of nature, transferred his passion for motorcycles to mountain bikes and regularly rode the trails and fire roads of the Santa Monica Mountains. A lifelong athlete and physical fitness enthusiast, Scott met personal trainer and longtime Palisades resident, Tracy Ryan, at the Pacific Athletic Club. The couple married in 2002, and in 2003 they welcomed their son, Ryan, into the world. In 2009, Scott was diagnosed with Stage IV melanoma and was accepted into a clinical trial for a new drug to combat the disease. He defied the odds, with a miracle rebound, surprising the medical community when the cancer went into remission. Following the ordeal, Scott, Tracy and Ryan committed themselves to embracing life and traveling extensively together as a family. Unfortunately, the cancer returned this past September. Scott succumbed to the disease, but not without a fight that, once again, astonished the entire clinical staff, his friends and family. Scott will always be remembered as an extremely kind, compassionate and considerate human being, a lover of trees, an extraordinary athlete, an exceptional friend, a wonderful listener, a loving father and devoted husband. Scott’s fight with cancer and his ongoing work as a tree specialist inspired him to want to help others. He was predeceased by his brother Mark (whose son, Eli, owns Johnson Tree Service in the Palisades). In addition to his wife, Tracy, and their nine-year-old son, Ryan, Scott is survived by brothers Mike, Chris and Brad, and sister Michelle, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A service will be held to celebrate Scott’s life on Friday, November 2, at 12:30 p.m. at Corpus Christi Church, corner of Sunset and Carey.’ Scott felt very strongly for the Wounded Warrior project and wore a bracelet supporting the organization. A donation in his name may be made to: support.woundedwarriorproject.org. One may also dedicate a tree planted in Scott’s honor: treepeople.org/tree-dedications or donate to The Angeles Clinic to support melanoma research: theangelesclinicfoundation.org/donate/
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