Rumsonite Millicent Mercer Johnsen, Past Garden Club Prez, Dies at 90

Longtime Rumsonite Millicent Mercer Johnsen, 90, passed away peacefully at home with family on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013.

She was the daughter of Henry D. and Catherine S. Mercer. Her father was the chairman of States Marine Lines, and successfully defended The America's Cup with Weatherly in 1962.

Millicent married her husband Niels W. Johnsen on Sept. 9, 1944 at Hominy Hill Farm in Colts Neck. Her husband is a past chairman and CEO of International Shipholding Corporation.

Her son, Niels M. Johnsen, is the current chairman and CEO of International Shipholding Corporation. Millicent was a Skidmore College Alumna, class of 1944. She was the owner and founder of Cheval Corporation which owned, trained and raced horses.

She was a member of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. She was a past president of the Rumson Garden Club and The Garden Club of America, was a Board Member of The Horticultural Society of New York.

Millicent was a Trustee Emerita of The American Academy in Rome, where her family established The Millicent Mercer Johnsen Post-Doctoral Rome Prize. She was also instrumental in the restoration and redesign of "The Secret Garden" at the American Academy in Rome.

Millicent was a past Board Member of The American Skin Association, The Twin Lights Historical Society and Skidmore College. She was a member of The Women's Committee of the Central Park Conservancy and volunteered in the flower program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City.

She received the Silver Bell award from the Seamen's Church Institute in recognition of her support of seafarers. Millicent was also a member of The Colony Club, The Rumson Country Club, Seabright Beach Club and Lyford Cay Club.

Millicent was a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank-Tower Hill in Red Bank, NJ, the Rumson Presbyterian Church in Rumson, NJ and Church of the Holy Cross in Vail, CO. She enjoyed golfing and skiing. She was an exceptional needle pointer and floral arranger, as well as a dedicated conservationist.

Millicent is survived by her husband of 69 years, Niels W.; brothers, Douglas D. Mercer and Henry D. Mercer Jr.; children: son, Niels M. and wife Marlene M.; daughter, Ingrid J. and husband William B. Barrett; daughter, Gretchen J. Bryant; grandchildren, Lisa J. and husband Michael S. Kane, Christina B. and husband Todd R. Robida, Elizabeth J. and husband Jeffrey T. Gardner, Jonathan W. and wife Carissa S. Barrett, and W. Brooks Barrett, Stephanie A. and husband Ken Moyers, Heather C. Bryant; great-grandchildren, Steven, Karl and Sofia Kane, Catherine and Benjamin Robida, Davis, Henry and Jack Gardner, Liam Barrett, and Harrison, Hayden and Hewitt Moyers.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A memorial service will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Elberon Memorial Church, 70 Park Ave., Elberon. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Millicent's memory to The Horticultural Society of New York, 148 W. 37th St., New York, NY 10018 or Twin Lights Historical Society, Twin Lights Historic Site, Lighthouse Road, Highlands, NJ 07732.