Andrew Thomas Johnston

    Andrew was born on July 27, 1997 in Arlington, VA, and passed away on August 1, 2025 in Watertown, MA. Andrew was brilliant, creative, and loved by family and friends.  He had a beautiful mind, which experienced the world through the prism of ADHD and Aspergers syndrome (autism). He had a wry smile, a great laugh, and a wicked sense of humor.  He loved books, movies, video games, math, all things technological, playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), flying with his grandfather, boogie boarding at the beach with his extended family, and sliding down waterfalls.  He gave good hugs. 

    In his short life, he lived and traveled in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the USA. At The Dublin School (Dublin, NH) he experienced joys and successes competing on the mountain bike team; serving as lead mechanic and driver for the robotics team; and rowing for the crew team. He built his own desk top computer and took it as his “date” to the school prom. He received a merit scholarship and was recruited for the crew team at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he studied computer science. At the end of his freshman year, he traveled to Henley, England, where he and the “Freshman Four” of WPI won the Reading Cup race. 

    He also made close friends. But it often seemed the world was not built for him.  ADHD made it difficult for him to focus on things that did not interest him, and Aspergers made it difficult to reach out for help. Over the years, Andrew faced increasing challenges with insomnia, anxiety and depression, which made it harder for him to pursue his dreams and fully be who he was.  But he continued to pursue new interests; still got animated when discussing his favorite movies, podcasts, D&D characters, or math blogs; helped others with their computer and technology problems; and his sister Kristin could always elicit a smile and even get him on the dance floor.

    Andrew is survived by his parents, Timothy and Keri Johnston; his sister, Kristin Johnston; his aunts Sara Johnston, Kathryn Johnston (Brian Conran), and Lorna Viehweg Weir (Randy); uncle John Viehweg (Sherity); grandparents Thomas and Anna Johnston and Fred and Shirley Viehweg; and many cousins. He is dearly missed by family, friends, and all who knew him. He knew we loved him, and we know he loved us.

    A celebration of life memorial for Andrew will be held Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the First Presbyterian of Arlington, Virginia.  The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/uSKAtUytDmQ and available afterward on the church website.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to:  the Andrew Johnston Memorial Fund at the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BRFF) https://bbrfoundation.donordrive.com/campaigns/Andrew-Johnston-Memorial-Fund or in Andrew’s memory to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) https://supporters.eff.org/donate/tribute

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