Michael L. Manco-Johnson, M.D.

Michael Lord Manco-Johnson, MD 05/25/1945 - 06/18/2018 Michael Johnson was raised in South Denver with his two younger sisters, Kim and Meredith. He attended South High School and went on to play ice hockey for Colorado College. Michael was always a passionate learner who poured himself entirely into each endeavor. He became involved with the University of Colorado School of Medicine as an undergrad when his father, Sandy, who was director of the Denver Research Institute at the University of Denver, sent him to help medical faculty who had promising ideas but limited funding. Michael had the incredible opportunity to work with Dr. Joseph Holmes in the development of kidney imaging using sonar and Dr. Bruce Paton, imaging the movement of heart valves with ultrasound. These two mentors inspired a life-long passion for medical imaging. Two other formative experiences included a year studying philosophy with Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl at the University of Vienna and a year teaching skiing in Aspen. Michael then enrolled in CU’s School of Medicine and graduated first in his class. Following 4 years of training in Cardiology and Radiology at Duke University, he returned to CU for his entire career, serving as Chief of Ultrasound and then Chairman of the Department of Radiology. Michael had an enviable career on the research forefront of ultrasound in the developmental years of echocardiography, abdominal and fetal imaging, and as an active and respected leader in every national and international academic society of Radiology. One of his favorite roles was that of recruiter, finding talented young faculty and supporting their career development. One such recruit, Dr. Gerard Horgan, came from Ireland and remained a close friend to the end. True to his inquisitive scientific spirit, he learned MRI joint imaging to help the hemophilia community late in his career, and quickly made contributions to that field as well. With his first wife, Winnie, Michael shared his early career, ski instructing around Colorado, and their two incredible children, Bryan and Kate. When he married his second wife, Marilyn, he changed his name to Manco-Johnson and included Gemma and Jonathan into his life. Their son Michael Jr. completed the family. Michael loved to bring his clan traveling around the world. Together they shared spectacular family vacations in Hawaii, Vail, Israel, Australia, Egypt, and Costa Rica. Some of Michael’s most revered memories were made with Marilyn trekking around China, Cambodia, Patagonia, and the Alta Plana of the central Andes. Michael was the consummate social guy and was happiest sharing an evening with one or a few friends. He loved nothing more than to introduce friends and family to his favorite Mexican restaurant, Chez Jose. He spent a lot of time in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains which he loved dearly. A quick wit characterized his great sense of humor. In his later years he never complained of poor health and uniformly expressed gratitude for the life he had. Michael passed from this life peacefully at home, with Marilyn and his beloved dog, Bella, by his side. Michael is survived by his sister, Kim, wife, Marilyn, five children, Bryan (Betsy), Gemma (Mark), Kate (Michael), Jonathan (Stephanie) and Michael (Susie), and 10 grandchildren (Henry, Myles, Bonnie, Alice, Gianna, Roy, Margo, Lucia, Evangeline and Stan). He will be sorely missed by all of his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in honor/memory of Michael Manco-Johnson be made to the Krugman Award Endowment (a scholarship fund for the University of Colorado School of Medicine) using the following link: https://giving.cu.edu/fund/write-fund. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 26th, at 10am, at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, 2250 S. Harrison St., Denver, 80210. A reception will follow at the family home.