THOMAS LEO JOHNSON, 76, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025, after a brief illness.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Edwin Leo Johnson and Cynthia Marcella Horsley Johnson; and his brother, Sgt.
James Edwin Johnson, US Army (retired).
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Lisa Thompson; his daughter, Sara Johnson Clark, Ph.D. (Nicholas); and son, Jeremy Johnson.
Grandchildren include Kai Clark, Mila Clark, and Haili Johnson.
Tom owned and operated Keystone Restorations, a masonry firm
specializing in restoration services for historic homes and commercial buildings located throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
Notable projects included Louisville’s 31-story 500 West Jefferson (originally Citizens Fidelity Plaza) and the Speed Art Museum. Other interesting projects occurred at Jeffersonville’s Howard Steamboat Museum, the limestone perimeter walls at Englishton Park, and New Albany’s Baptist Tabernacle.
Two projects were particularly important to Tom. Keystone Restorations was located at 141 W Main, New Albany, IN, at the 1825 Stoy-Shrader House.
Thanks to Tom’s sometimes dangerous interventions, the building
exists to celebrate its 200th birthday this year as The High Dive, a
speakeasy-style apothecary adjacent to the Floyd County Brewery.
Tom also rescued his home, the Garriott Family homestead in Washington County, IN. A two-year restoration salvaged the 1855 farmhouse, summer kitchen, spring house foundation, and barn which was featured on the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial Barn Quilt.
The home is a recipient of the Historic Landmarks Rosemary Prentice Award for Historic Preservation.
It was his wish that he spend his last days at his home, with Lisa and their menagerie including Charlie and Rocky, their dogs; Jack the Cat; and assorted feral kittens.
He is remembered fondly by many nephews, nieces, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and business associates as a funny and loving person who was passionate about regional historic preservation, fairness, and volunteerism.
Expressions of joy can be made by adding music to Tom Leo’s Spotify site. Enjoy his music this summer:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6AZqpm3MzBZkjAwZopHo0e?si=TagKd5tmTuqRtKIsBzcr_A&pi=NRcR6rIaQUKmv&pt=8f014e7031be5402ae499adfdeaef1e9
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Louisville Urban League
https://lul.org/donate-now/, Renaissance School
https://renaissanceschool.org/about-us/support/, and Indiana Landmarks Foundation https://www.indianalandmarks.org/join-give/donate/
Finally, Tom would tell you that when you see something, do something. That the best repairs are invisible.
And, when in doubt about taking a chance to make great things happen, ask yourself WWCMD–
What would Claude Monet do?
