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Did Curt Johnson pass away last night??

Sorry mate, call me stupid lol, but whos Curt Johnson, if i may ask?

>>Sorry mate, call me stupid lol, but whos Curt Johnson, if i may ask?

Curt was simply put one of the most knowledgeable venomous keepers here in the US (heck he seemed to know something about nearly ANY reptile) I've ever known. He was not an academic, but I can tell you this, most venomous keepers could have learned a lot from him. Having seen his collection a number of times in person I can simply say I was always in awe. Stunning animals! He was not a mainstream breeder and pretty much kept an extremely LOW profile. Tragic is an understatement. I truly hope the right thing is done with his collection and it does not wind up on the internet chopping block or his family taken advantage of. Sad, sad, sad... I knew Curt for about 11 or 12 years. I'll miss him a heck of a lot. I actually have a couple neat projects this season I was hoping to ‘spring’ on him! I’m sorry I will not have the opportunity to talk with him about them and share pics, etc… I don’t believe in ‘the hereafter’, but if there is, I can only hope Curt is in Africa chasing a Gold’s Tree Cobra.

Matt

I worked with Curt, I visited with Curt and was lucky to call him friend for about 13 years. Most of my venomous collection was gifted to me by Curt and I was able to return the favor once or twice with some baby squamigers and others I had the good fortune to produce.

For many years Curt and I talked daily as we shared both a reptile hobby and a tropical fruit tree hobby so we had lots to discuss. After work at 2am Curt would invite me over to look at some plant or something with a flashlight, careful not to shine it at the neighbors of course. We ordered exotic seeds from far off lands together and competed with each other at who would grow them better. (Curt almost always won).

When Curt got his his first tree cobra, I was there, when I got my first tree cobra, Curt was there. I remember getting a shipment from a dealer and inside was a bag marked "gift for Curt" ( a brown snake). This was funny as my order was only about 250 bucks and Curt's freebie was about 300 bucks at the time, and I paid shipping!

Nobody could keep snakes better, Curt was meticulous in his care, careful in his handling, and observant of anything that might be awry with any specimen. Two king cobras he gave me were because they were imperfect, one had to look hard to see the problem but to Curt it was glaring, so they were gifted to me (my first venomous snakes, a Curt Johnson bred pair of Kings!)

Curt's passing has affected me deeply, I will miss calling him to prattle on about whatever, and have had to fight the compulsion to call and tell him some stupid thing I thought of, or to call to stop by to look at the damage the last cold front did to his inga; preferably with a flashlight in the middle of night.

Alan Shobert

Unfortunately, I know nothing of Curt, but the picture Alan paints of him is moving. Very well written man.

Wow, I hope not. I don't know Curt personally, but know of him by reputation, and am in awe of his collection (based on photos on KS)...can anyone who knows him verify he's alright? I really hope this isn't true.

Robbie Keszey tried calling him today and found out through speaking with Curts family that he did in fact pass away yesterday. I spoke with Robbie shortly thereafter and learned of it that way.
Curt has been a very good friend of mine for near 10 years. He was quite likely the best venomous snake keeper of this generation. Very quiet and humble and hated internet forums. I know without question that the last thing he would want is to be a topic on Kingsnake.com forums.
I do have to say that I will miss him tremendously. He was a Hell of a good man!

Robbie thinks he is up there in the blue havin a read of this forum, so if thats true...I'll just say that I've got a swift kick in the ass for ya if I see ya again my friend!

RIP Curt

Terry Phillip
Robbie Keszey

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It's what you learn AFTER you know it all that counts!

Terry Phillip
Curator of Reptiles
Black Hills Reptile Gardens
Rapid City, SD.

www.reptilegardens.com

Our condolences to the family.

* to Curt

I dont know whether to bepissed off or cry, Emotions arent really setting in yet.

I know I will greatly miss our nightly talks, and the friendship that we had. Not many people knew you, Im fortunate to be one of thse select few.

Thank you for the time we shared, It was truly a pleasure, I miss you greatly, as does Terry.

We will meet again brother, And when that day comes....a swifter kick than Terry.

R.I.P Curt

Robbie Kez

RIP Curt.

Mardi Snipes

Coastal Reptiles

RIP my friend. I cannot believe I'm typing this.

I didn't mean any disrespect by posting, Curt was one of the few people who's collection and knowledge really impressed me. His rapport with his animals was awe inspring. I posted this thinking it was another bite rumor that someone would be able to dispel. I wish now I hadn't posted as I hate the thought of anyone close to him finding out about this tragic situation on a fourm. Under the circumstances if the moderators want to delete the thread i wouldn't mind.

RIP Curt
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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

humble and hated internet forums. I know without question that the last thing he would want is to be a topic on Kingsnake.com forums.

you ain't kidding.

Alan

I would like to say a few things about my friend Curt Johnson who passed away this week.

I’ve known Curt Johnson for eleven years. In this time we have become close friends talking on the phone for hours about politics, guns, plants, and reptiles. Curt had an extensive gun collection as well as one of the best venomous reptile collections in the world. Curt was a plumber by trade.

He loved his animals and kept them in perfect condition by cleaning and feeding everyday. His animals were always huge, beautiful, and most were very prolific. He took pride in the fact that his animals, many of which were considered the most deadly snakes on earth, were docile and easy to handle. He believed proper handling gave the snake nothing to fear so they were not aggressive. He never had a serious bite to my knowledge. He once kept me on the phone 5 hours after I was bitten because he wanted to be sure I was okay.

He liked seeing his animals breed successfully but did not like dealing with people when he sold them. He often sold them to Glades because it was the easiest way to get rid of surplus without any hassle. He worked for Joe Fauci at Southeast for years and considered Joe a very close friend.

If Curt considered you a friend you new it because he went out of his way to hold friends close.

Curt kept to himself and did not like public forums because he felt they brought unwanted attention from law makers and people who would support more restrictive wildlife laws. He felt the same about gun laws and talked for hours about it.

At the funeral his dad was happy to learn how respected Curt was by his peers and that he was very successful with the things he cared about. Everyone that attended the funeral expressed their love and admiration and a since of loss.

While Curt would not have liked me writing anything about him on a public forum I felt I should share some of my thoughts about him. Let’s make this forum a positive expression of our appreciation of a great herper that we have lost.

Robbie Keszey
Glades Herp Farm Inc.

Kurt,

I met Kurt probably about eleven years ago at southeast reptile exchange in Tampa. Kurt was a quiet person that as many of you know kept to himself, very humble and extremely knowledgable about reptiles in specific for hots. I have had many discussions with Kurt regarding animals in his collection, my collection, future breeding projects and importing hard to get hots from other countries etc... I remember conversations regarding toxicity of black Mambas and actually measuring an 8 footer that we all swore was ten foot in the cage at southeast one day. Though Kurt is no longer physically with us these memories and the memories that we all share will last forever. It's hard to say good bye so I won't. I will see you later.

Alex Rahmings
Toxcity Venomous Reptiles

Curt was 1 of a kind, a true good guy. I remember him best for the trips to my house he would make and the way that he would talk about the snakes. I had some wagleri and he stared at them like they were the Hope diamonds, I gave him a pair and ask only that if he produced babies that I could get a few of them. The next thing I know is he shows up and hands me a bunch of hatchling malay pits. He was a great man to call for husbandry info. I will miss our phone and in person visit. Curt I will miss you, Thank you for all the knowledge to shared with me. As many have already said, Curt would rather give a snakes to a person and would never ask for anything in return.

God bless you Buddy.

Dave Lawson