Sadhu Aufochs Johnston
Encyclopedia
Sadhu Aufochs Johnston was the Chief Environmental Officer of Chicago
and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley
, until he was appointed Deputy City Manager of Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
in 2009. Johnston previously served as the Executive Director of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition.
to a Canadian
father and a German
Jewish mother who was born in South Africa
. Johnston lived in many cities around the world with his mother, a psychotherapist, who raised him in communes from India
to Colorado
. His parents were hippies. Although he does not have India
n heritage, he was named Sadhu as a result of his parents' extended stays in India
during the 1960s
and 1970s
where they immersed themselves in alternative spirituality
and yoga
. He is a dual US
and Canadian
citizen who spent several summers visiting his father, who worked as a carpenter, and grandmother in Vancouver while growing up.
in 1998 where he studied environmental studies
.
, the unelected city manager of Vancouver, announced that Johnston would be hired as Deputy City Manager to lead the city's environmental efforts. He is scheduled to begin work on November 2, 2009.
on Cortes Island, British Columbia. The couple, who met while attending Oberlin College, have a daughter named Zella Rose and two dogs. Gillespie has called the family's eco-life "our religion."
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
, until he was appointed Deputy City Manager of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 2009. Johnston previously served as the Executive Director of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition.
Background
Johnson was born in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
father and a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Jewish mother who was born in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Johnston lived in many cities around the world with his mother, a psychotherapist, who raised him in communes from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. His parents were hippies. Although he does not have India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n heritage, he was named Sadhu as a result of his parents' extended stays in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
during the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
and 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
where they immersed themselves in alternative spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
and yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
. He is a dual US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
citizen who spent several summers visiting his father, who worked as a carpenter, and grandmother in Vancouver while growing up.
Education
He graduated from Oberlin CollegeOberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in 1998 where he studied environmental studies
Environmental studies
Environmental studies is the academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study that includes the natural environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships between them...
.
Chicago period
Johnston was appointed Chief Environmental Officer and Deputy Chief of Staff of Chicago in July 2005 by Mayor Richard M. Daley.Vancouver deputy city manager
On September 1, 2009 Penny BallemPenny Ballem
Dr. Penny Janet Drury Ballem, MSc, MD, FRCP is the city manager for the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and served as a member of the VANOC board of directors, corporate director for Bentall Capital G.P. Ltd., as well as a senior adviser to RPO Management Consultants...
, the unelected city manager of Vancouver, announced that Johnston would be hired as Deputy City Manager to lead the city's environmental efforts. He is scheduled to begin work on November 2, 2009.
Family
Johnston is married to Manda Aufochs Gillespie, an environmental consultant and writer. The couple was married at the Hollyhock RetreatHollyhock Retreat
Hollyhock Retreat is a retreat located on the sunniest southeastern beach of Cortes Island, British Columbia that offers a range of personal and spiritual development programs on topics including animal communication, relationships, nonviolent communication,, spiritual chanting, Tibetan Buddhism,...
on Cortes Island, British Columbia. The couple, who met while attending Oberlin College, have a daughter named Zella Rose and two dogs. Gillespie has called the family's eco-life "our religion."