Ivy Ann Johnson of Washington, DC died on November 19, 2010 in Houston, TX of melanoma cancer.
She was born March 10, 1972 in Laramie, WY to parents Mary E. Mahaffey and Philip B. Johnson, both of Casper, WY. She attended grade schools in several states before returning to Casper where she graduated with honors from Natrona County High School in 1990.
Ivy competed on the Alpine Ski Team while in high school and consistently scored points for her team. She was named outstanding female skier in the State and a plaque still hangs in her honor at the school. She earned a trip to Washington, DC on the Cloe-Up program and fell in love with Washington.
In the fall of 1990, Ivy started college at Washington and Lee University of Lexington, VA majoring in Economics and Political Science. She was briefly an intern to Wyoming Senators Malcolm Wallop and Alan Simpson. She graduated in 1994 and initially worked for Senator Alan Simpson and later went to work for the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, VA. Ivy returned to Washington and Lee University in 1998 to earn a Law Degree. She was the Senior Articles Editor for the Law Review of the Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2001. She received the Order of the Coif at graduation.
Upon receiving her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, she spent a year as Law Clerk for the Honorable Jackson L. Kiser, U.S. District Court, Danville, VA. Following that appointment she joined the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom in Washington, DC. Ivy specialized in anti-trust law.
In 2005, Ivy took a position as Chief Civil Counsel on the staff of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee working for then chairman, Senator Arlen Specter. Then, in 2009, she moved to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs where she worked as deputy General Counsel for Senator Susan Colllins (R-Maine).
Ivy loved to travel and traveled in Europe, Russia, Israel, Canada, and Africa, but her favorite destinations were St. Johns Island in the Virgin Islands and the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. She learned to sail in the British Virgin Islands and skied in the Tetons. Ivy was a master of written expression, but her passion, from an early age, was debate. It must be said the Ivy achieved her success, not through family money or political connections, but rather through inspiration, hard work, persistence and an intellect, noted by all who met her.
Ivy is survived by both her parents, Philip Johnson (Lori) and Mary Mahaffey (Rod) of Casper, WY, brothers Jeromy Johnson (Shannon & son Zaden) of Denver, CO, and Bradley Johnson of Virginia Beach, VA, step-brother Spencer Mahaffey (Jenny) of Denver, CO, her love, Christian Winter of Reston, VA, and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins.