Caldwell – On Thursday, Mar. 16, 2023, Nora Kayaloff Johnson passed away.
Born Nora Jane Kayaloff in Flushing, NY, Nora sang her way into a choir led by Leopold Stokowski at Carnegie Hall before leaving for Hawaii, where she taught horseback riding and attended the University of Hawaii, graduating with a degree in European Intellectual History.
After flying with her horse Tom (Top o’ the Morn, an AQHA champion) back from Hawaii to these hills, she performed investigative work for the Humane Society, taught GED classes, and supported women in crisis through the Family Refuge Center.
Nora met her husband Bill first by telephone. They married in 1984 and found their forever home in “The Meadow” in Caldwell in 1988.
Nora took up golf and proceeded to win an assortment of golf trophies to go with her roomful of equestrian trophies. She started a medical auditing company, Medex, and through her partnership with Medical Billing Advocates of America, Nora spoke on CNN, 60 Minutes, and to the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce about unscrupulous hospital billing practices.
Nora never did anything halfway, instead preferring to do things all the way and a good bit farther. She lived life on her own terms, which gave her the freedom to be generous to others with her time, wisdom, and advocacy. The world will be smaller without her. Upon learning that her exit was imminent, Nora spent her last days enjoying food, drink, and being treated like a queen by the many people who loved her.
She is survived by her husband, William Johnson of Caldwell, and her stepchildren, Leigh Ann Scherer (Robbie) and David Johnson, and step-grand-daughter, Murphy Scherer, as well as her stepchildren from her late husband, Commander Winfield Junk, U.S. Navy (ret.), David Junk (Myrna), John Junk (Mary Kay), and William Junk (Sandy). She also leaves behind her brother, Walter Kayaloff; her sisters, Anne Pisarra (Sal) and Aletha Kayaloff; and her parents, Vladimir Kayaloff and Aletha Maloney, preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, Nora requested that donations be sent to the Greenbrier County Humane Society or the Peyton Hospice House.
Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg is in charge of arrangements. Please send online condolences by visiting www.WallaceandWallaceFH.com
