Roberta Johnson

Roberta “Bobby” Irene Johnson J.D., age 100, long-time Californian, passed away in Saginaw Township, Michigan, Friday, March 6, 2026. She had enjoyed the last years of her life in Michigan to be near her daughter and son-in-law. Roberta was born on March 30, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York. She is survived by her daughter, Lisa (Eric) DeVos; step-granddaughter, Christina DeVos; brother, Sydney Kulchin; sister-in-law, Ann Kulchin; nieces and nephews, Laurie Tabori, Bill (Shelagh) Kulchin, Karen (Mark) Stahlhuth, Leslie (Joe) Thomas, and De-de (John) Sanfillippo. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Mollie Kulchin; brother, Larry Kulchin; sister-in-law, Gloria Kulchin; and nephew, Steve Kulchin.

Bobby began in journalism as a teenager, landing her first job as a copy girl at the New York Times. After earning an associate’s degree in journalism and political science, her experience as a lobbyist in Sacramento inspired her to become a lawyer. She attended Hastings College of Law (now UC Law San Francisco), the only woman in her graduating class. After passing the bar in 1954 she spent 14 years in private practice, whereafter she became an Administrative Law Judge for the State of California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Serving for many years as Presiding Administrative Law Judge, she trained many judges to follow in her footsteps before retiring.

Bobby loved hiking in the Santa Cruz mountains and made many good friends while doing so. She loved writing and was especially gifted at haiku. She also loved writing narrative snippets about life experiences. Throughout her life she was passionate and outspoken about fairness and justice, unrepentantly intolerant of prejudice. Many family and friends (and caregivers in her later years) have noted how encouraging and supportive she was towards pursuit of their dreams, aspirations, and personal growth. She enjoyed and truly appreciated the personal, patient, and affectionate care she received from the wonderful staff at Wellspring Lutheran Services in Saginaw, for which her family are forever deeply grateful.

If you wish to celebrate her life in death, in lieu of anything else, please walk and smell the roses, consider composing a haiku poem, and/or enhance your support of action toward women’s rights and social justice.

A memorial service for Bobby will be held mid-summer of 2026 in the San Francisco Bay Area, please check back for details.

For information, please contact Fischer Family Funeral Services, 989-755-8277. To express condolences online, please visit www.fischerfuneral.com.