Hundreds of mourners packed the inside of Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Sun City West on Friday to pay tribute to former ASU offensive lineman Nick Johnson, who died last week from complications of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
Stories were told of Johnson's love for football, which took him from little-known Cottonwood Mingus High School to ASU, where he redshirted as a freshman before transferring to Snow College of Utah.
Phoenix Brophy College Preparatory football coach Jeff Kearin recalled how Johnson, 23, befriended his team's players as an assistant, teaching them more about life than blocking techniques.
Johnson's mother, Pamela Garrett Johnson, spoke about the time that Johnson ordered 14 soft tacos and four burritos from Taco Bell after getting out of the hospital, only to go back because he forgot his chips and cheese.
"Nicholas never met a stranger, especially one who was willing to buy him a free meal," Johnson's mother said.
At 6 feet 8 inches and 320 pounds, Johnson was described as a "big, friendly giant," someone who used his determination and strong will to accelerate his football career, yet "just wasn't mean enough" to play professionally, pastor Steve Kappler said.
Kappler visited Johnson in the hospital the day before Johnson died, and told him to be at ease before crossing the proverbial goal line. Johnson was at peace, but he remained cynical.
"If it's so wonderful there, would you like to trade places?" Johnson asked.
Kearin said that he will always be thankful for Johnson's contributions to his program, even though Johnson, who coached at rival Phoenix St. Mary's High School before leaving for Brophy, couldn't do much during practices.
"He often was way too weak to even get up and get out of the shade because it was so bloody hot," Kearin said. "He would sit with the goofy kickers and quarterbacks and espouse to them his brilliance. But he was always there."
Reach the reporter at brian.gomez@asu.edu.
