[Photo by www.PhotoAndGraphic.com]
WHO: Rich Johns
WHAT: Saratoga Springs High School Teacher and Sports Coach
Q. How long have you lived in Saratoga?
A. We’ve been in Saratoga since the fall of 1972, so you can do the math. It’s been over 45 years or so. I’ve been immersed in the community of Saratoga Springs and truly love being part of the community.
Q. How long have you been married?
A. Well, I better get this one right. My wife, Karen, and I have been married now for 46 years. I tell people ‘I think I was married when I was 15...’ I’m only kidding. We were married in August of 1971, I was going back to school for my senior year, Karen had graduated, and she became a teacher in the fall of ’71.
Q. How many children do you have?
A. We have one child, her name is Nicole, she is now 36 and she is a psychotherapist and yes, whether she is five or 36, she’s my little girl.
Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. I do enjoy just being with my friends, there’s no question about that. I was very fortunate over the years to enjoy different sports. Karen and I spend a lot of time together and going for walks and enjoying seeing activities in the city. Taking short trips but always returning to Saratoga. I don’t see myself ever really leaving Saratoga. Q. If you had to describe your life as a movie genre, what would you say it’s been? A. Well you know, we never try to map out what our life will be like, we just sort of jump in it and we realize over time, life is life. I’ve been so fortunate to be able to go to college and pursue teaching. Coaching became part of it within that scope. I don’t want to use the term, ‘it’s been a wonderful life,’ it’s been a wonderful life. It certainly has been more that I can ever dream of as I’ve been able to move from teaching, coaching, and now sending the message that I have, which is now growing throughout the country. I could never have dreamt of anything like that. I consider myself a very lucky person, to have been married and enjoyed every bit of it. I don’t know if that fits a genre, but I know that it’s been very special and I do appreciate that.
