City Faces in Different Places
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on July 11, 2021 from City Faces
This week's Bridgeport City Face is Dee Johnson. Learn about this active lifelong city resident below.
How long have you lived in Bridgeport? If not a lifelong resident, tell me what brought you here.
I was born and raised in Bridgeport. I have lived here my entire life except for 4 years of college I lived in Fairmont.
Tell me about your family.
I have been married to Rick Johnson for 20 years, and we have a 17-year-old daughter, Marra. My mom, Rosemary Corder, still lives here in Bridgeport, and my sister Lori Clanton and her family live in Aurora, CO.
What about pets?
We have a Shih Tzu named Jazzy. She is 10 years old.
Where do you work and what do you do there?
I am employed by Shaner Investments Hotel Management where I am the Corporate Director of Revenue Management for 3 different properties. I oversee the rate and pricing strategies and sales efforts for each of these hotels. My home - based hotel is the Courtyard Marriott here in Bridgeport, whereas the other two hotels are Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriotts in Lock Haven and Huntingdon, PA.
What are your hobbies/favorite past times?
I don’t really have any hobbies. If I could be laying on a beach or beside pool at any given time, I would definitely be in my happy place. I love to tie dye. During covid, Marra and I made a lot of tie dyed clothes for our friends. Most of my time is spent following Marra’s crazy schedule. I love to watch her in all of her activities; swimming, golf, or dancing, she always keeps us busy!
Favorite Bridgeport spot?
“The Pinewood Pub.” This is what Rick calls the bar in our basement. We love to hang out with our friends for food and drinks, watch sports, and often end with a little dancing downstairs at the Pinewood Pub..jpg)
What do you like about Bridgeport … why is this a good place to live?
I think Bridgeport is a great place to raise a family. It is a small town where you can feel safe with your children. There is a huge community support from the town, no matter what it may be for, especially with sports and education.
One – or more – of your favorite memories of something that took place in Bridgeport ...
I was so proud to see when my dad, Mike Corder, was inducted into the BHS Alumni Hall of Fame. He was a huge fan and supporter of Bridgeport High School.
As a kid, I loved when my friends and I would play spotlight tag though out the neighborhoods.
When I was in the fourth grade, my sister was in high school. She and her friends dressed me up for Halloween in one of their football uniforms. Wayne “Smiley” Jamison was my neighbor. They had me go trick or treating to his house and hid behind the bushes, and he had no idea who the little BHS football player was at his front door.
What is your favorite spot outside of Bridgeport?
Aruba. This is our family’s favorite vacation spot. We will be vacationing there again this summer and it will be my 13th time to Aruba.
What are some of your favorite things?
Traveling, Evenings by a firepit, Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, Unsweet Iced Tea
Food/restaurant?
I love Mexican food. We frequent El Rey weekly.
Twin Oaks pizza. If I was told to live on 1 meal the rest of my life, it would be Twin Oaks pizza.
Favorite color?
I’d probably say turquoise blue because it makes me think of the ocean or a pool.
Music genre/artist?
Country Music. I don’t have a favorite artist, but I just love country music.
Favorite holiday?
This is a toss up. Of course, I love Christmas, who doesn’t? The Christmas season is a time to spend with family and friends. I love Christmas decorations and all of the beautiful Christmas lights, especially Main Street’s Light Up Night. I am obsessed with the Hallmark Christmas movies and love holiday get togethers. But my family really gets into Halloween. We love to dress up as something crazy each year. We’ve been known to decorate the house as a version of a haunted house a time or too, and we love to throw a Halloween costume party.
TV show/movie?
Top Gun. I can recite every line of that movie.
Interesting fact about you and/or something you would like to add…
I was on the first BHS state championship cheerleading team in 1995. I then went on to cheer in college at Fairmont State where I then coached cheerleading for 8 years and we won 4 National Championships while I was a coach. I could never convince my daughter to be a cheerleader.
