Media CenterPat Johns, the Master of Disaster, Passes On

Patrick “Pat” Johns, a man whose huge experience at humanitarian emergencies gave him the nickname Master of Disaster, passed away on Monday morning, September 14. He was suddenly stricken with a rare cancer combined with cardiac complications.

“Pat was a legend,” said Sean Callahan, Chief Operating Officer for CRS. “Catholic Relief Services is deeply indebted to a man who gave his life to the services of those in desperate need in the most dangerous places on our planet.”

From Cambodia’s killing fields, to Ethiopia, to the Rwanda genocide, to Somalia and the Asian tsunami, Johns worked at all of the world’s major humanitarian emergencies for over 30 years – as well as in many minor ones that have been long forgotten.

“He lived through war, famine, natural disasters and incredible human suffering. We are all deeply saddened that Pat did not get to enjoy a longer retirement with his family,” said Callahan.

CRS first sent him to Cambodia in 1974 when the Vietnam War was still raging in Indochina. Right up to the Haiti earthquake in 2010, Johns was a leader of the CRS emergency response.

“Perhaps the greatest thing about Pat was that he was a gentleman and a greatly caring person. He could work non-stop for 50 hours in terrible conditions, but still have the heart to offer comfort and friendship to those around him,” said Callahan.

In 2014, Johns was the subject of a major article in the magazine of his alma mater, Marquette, when he was honored with the university’s Service to the Community award.

"Every one of my assignments with CRS has brought new challenges that automatically regenerated my interest,” Johns told Marquette Magazine. “It’s the uniqueness of the environment. Every one of my posts has been fascinating.”

Johns was 66 and leaves behind his wife Sunny and son Bryan. Funeral services and requiem mass will be held in His home Town in Illinois in the third week of October. A Baltimore memorial service will be held at the Catholic Relief Services Headquarters in Baltimore in November. Announcements will be circulated in advance of these events.

Read Marquette Magazine's article about Pat Johns