In Memory of Johnny Strange

USC Shoah Foundation is saddened to learn of the passing of Johnny Strange, a record-holding adventurer and supporter of USC Shoah Foundation.

At 17, Strange became the youngest person to summit the world’s seven highest peaks. He continued to travel around the world performing stunts including BASE jumping in the Grand Canyon, skydiving in the North Pole and skateboarding down the side of a mountain. He often filmed these adventures and posted the videos online.

Strange visited USC Shoah Foundation in 2012 while he was an undergraduate studying international relations at USC. He was devoted to two causes – finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease and stopping genocide – and often ended his videos by sharing the USC Shoah Foundation website URL.

In an interview with USC Dornsife during his visit to the Institute, Strange said traveling the world made him feel a personal connection to those affected by mass atrocities.

“I love the fact that USC Dornsife has the Shoah Foundation here. It’s a place that cares about the same things that I do,” Strange said. “Stories monumental in our history that might have been forgotten or swept under the rug are available to learn from.”