Todd A. Johnston, age 70, of Mansfield, passed away peacefully, in the presence of his loving family, on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth "Betsy" (Bradley) Johnston, with whom he shared forty-four years of deep devotion and marriage.
Born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island on May 30, 1956, he was the loving son of the late Thomas and Patricia (Collinge) Johnston.
Todd grew up in Cumberland, Rhode Island and was a 1974 graduate of Cumberland High School. He continued his studies at Boston College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1978. Mansfield had been his cherished home for the past forty-two years.
Todd enjoyed a distinguished and dedicated forty-three-year career at Shield Packaging Company in Canton, where he retired as President and CFO. Earlier in his career, he worked as a CPA for a Providence-based accounting firm.
A man of faith, Todd was an active communicant and parishioner at Saint Mary’s Church in Mansfield, where he served on the finance committee. Guided by a strong commitment to family and marriage, he and Betsy were staples of the Marriage Preparation Program for the Diocese of Fall River, mentoring countless couples over the years.
Todd lived his life with purpose. He was surgical with details in everything he did and had a passion for understanding practical things at their core. He spent his time mastering new technology, working on personal finance, steering his business, or tracking weather patterns to send localized forecasts to his kids across the country. He would spend countless hours researching every nuance to build the perfect itinerary for trips to Disney World and around the world with Betsy and his family. Todd truly knew everything about the things he loved.
Above all else, Todd’s ultimate devotion was to his family. He lived for Betsy and his children, pouring his heart into being a loving husband and father. His love for his kids and his passion for the game of baseball led him to coach Little League and summer leagues in Mansfield for many years, leaving a lasting impact on his family and community alike. He also found great joy on the golf course.
In addition to his beloved wife Betsy, he is survived by his devoted children: Adam Johnston and his wife Katherine Sherman of Providence; Tim Johnston and his wife Jessica of Castle Pines Colorado; Kate Palanza and her husband Thomas, Jr. of Falmouth; Michaela Dowd and her husband Brycen of North Andover; Kevin Johnston and his wife Jamie of Aurora, Colorado; and Jared Felty of Washington, DC. He was the cherished grandfather of Grayson, Rhys, Ellie, Teddy, Isla, Rosie, Nolan, and Brooklyn. At the time of his passing, he was eagerly anticipating the birth of three additional grandchildren. He was the dear brother of Joy Aguayo and her husband Jaime of Florida, Patti Quick and her husband Michael of Florida, and Jill Warden and her husband Robert of Virginia. He is also survived by his many loving nieces and nephews, as well as his much-loved extended Bradley family.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, August 6th from 5:00–8:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main Street, Mansfield.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 7th at 11:00 A.M. in Saint Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt Street (Route 106), Mansfield. Burial will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Todd’s memory to the Red Sox Foundation, 4 Jersey Street, Boston, MA 02215 or to the Mansfield Food Pantry, 15A West Street, Mansfield, MA 02048
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com