For decades, the public knew nothing of Katherine Johnson’s contributions. Her technical papers were filed in NASA archives, recognized only by aerospace specialists. That obscurity changed dramatically in the 2010s.
In November 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Katherine the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Jim, then 89, sat in the audience, watching his wife receive recognition alongside luminaries like Steven Spielberg and Willie Mays. The ceremony marked a profound validation for a couple who had endured decades of institutional invisibility.
When Margot Lee Shetterly’s book came out and the film adaptation swept theaters in late 2016, journalists descended on their home. Jim watched Katherine become a global icon of STEM achievement at age 98. Visitors noted that even as his health declined, Jim's pride in Katherine remained vibrant.
Jim Johnson passed away in March 2019 at the age of 93, shortly before Katherine celebrated her 101st birthday. Their marriage had endured for 59 years and seven months. Katherine survived him by eleven months, passing away in February 2020.
