Robert Gilbert Johnston, just “Gil” to his friends, died this week in Chicago after a battle with cancer. One version of his obituary, provided by his sons, Ben and Iain, appears below.

Gil was a friend and mentor to both Meda and me during the early 1970s. Meda first met Gil’s wife, Janice, who was also pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii. We entered grad school immediately after earning our bachelor degrees, while Gil and Jan had earned law degrees and had already been around a few blocks before we met. But we hit it off right away, and it didn’t take long for Janice to fold us into their family, with their two boys, and eventually their cats. Meanwhile Gil provided me invaluable introductions to the community leaders of low income and Native Hawaii groups he served as an attorney. It’s fair to say that Gil provided me a life changing educational experience, not only providing entry, generously sharing his behind-the-scenes experiences in the political and legal communities.

And there was something more personal I have to credit Gil and Jan with. Our graduate student lifestyle included finding all kinds of ways to save money. I recall inviting them to our Kaimuki apartment for dinner, where we proudly served Safeway’s La Mesa wine from a gallon jug, while bragging that you could pick up a gallon for only $5, if I recall that price correctly. They never lectured us about our poor taste in wine, but instead introduced us to the pleasures of wines that were definitely a cut or two above the bargain basement brands. Another life changing lesson I can credit to Gil (and Janice).

Janice died suddenly 15 years ago (can it really be that long ago?), and I’m afraid we haven’t been as good at keeping up contact in the years since, although we’ve periodically check in with Gil, and with both Ben and Iain, both now talented professionals with their own successful careers and beautiful families.

Robert Gilbert Johnston. Friends just call him “Gil.” Headed the Legal Aid Society in Hawaii for a couple of years around 1970, represented Hawaiian and low income community groups as a private attorney, later serving as professor and dean at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

After battling cancer, Robert Gilbert Johnston — the former Dean of The John Marshall Law School — was called home on June 21, 2018. He was a lifelong champion of underdogs everywhere and helped shape the careers of countless attorneys.

Born on November 28, 1931, in Waipahu, Hawai’i, Gil was the son of proud Scottish immigrants, Robert “Bert” Johnston and Molly Gilbert. Raised on a sugar plantation with his sister Jean (Shea), he did his chores, spoke fluent pidgin English with the workers and caused mischief with his cousin Stanley. After graduating from the Punahou School, he eventually enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard. Following his service, Gil attended the University of Chicago and graduated from the University of Chicago Law School.
Early in his career, he practiced law in Chicago. In light of his classically liberal political leanings, he also naturally began teaching law. Gil was a trial lawyer by day and an adjunct faculty member of The John Marshall Law School by night.

In 1960, he married Janice Metros. Together, they had two sons: Robert “Ben” Johnston, an emergency medicine physician with the Christie Clinic in Champaign, Illinois; and Iain D. Johnston, a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Gil and his family spent their early years in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

In 1969, Gil moved his family back to Hawai’i, where he was the Director of the state’s Legal Services Corporation. During his time at legal aid and in his subsequent private practice, he was a tireless advocate for Native Hawaiians’ rights. During that time, he successfully litigated numerous landmark cases in both state and federal court, reaffirming the rights of Native Hawaiians as a people and a nation.

In 1975, Gil returned to Chicago to teach full time at The John Marshall Law School. In addition to teaching and mentoring thousands of future attorneys, he became an administrator, eventually serving as Dean from 1995 to 2003. During his academic career, he was a nationally recognized expert in civil procedure in the Illinois and federal courts systems. He published numerous articles as well as a book on these subjects. Even as an academic, he continued to litigate cases. In 1982, he argued before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of a Native Hawaiian prisoner.

In 2003, his wife — Janice — passed away. Gil then married Jane Oswald, a former associate dean at The John Marshall Law School. They lived in Park Ridge and were members of the Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Gil is survived by his wife Jane, his sons Ben and Iain, his daughters-in-law Leisa and Elizabeth, and his grandchildren, Robert Wallace McGregor “Mac” Johnston, Finley Johnston and Lily Johnston. He is also survived by his sister Jean and his niece Kathleen and family. His nephew Pat preceded him in death. Gil will be remembered as the devoted “Uncle Gil” to the Metros Family: Claudia, Mike, Christine, and Craig and families; and the Pigao ‘Ohana: Auntie Tiko, Mary, Dean and family.

In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Gil’s love for Hawai’i, the family would ask that donations be made in his name to the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation at nhlchi.org. It goes without saying that, in Gil’s memory, you should also simply help a person less fortunate and don’t make a big deal out of it.