Dorothy Johnston, 70; La Jolla Playhouse Benefactor, Trustee

Dorothy Louise Johnston, 70, a member of the board of trustees of the La Jolla Playhouse and a leading benefactor of that institution, died May 28 at her home in La Jolla. The cause of death was a carcinoid tumor.

Beginning in 1983, Johnston was an active member of the playhouse’s board. Over the years, she sponsored numerous productions, including Des McAnuff’s production of “The Collected Works of Billy the Kid”; Julie Taymor’s production of “The Green Bird”; and Michael Greif’s production of Jessica Hagedorn’s book “Dogeaters.”

Born in Flint, Mich., Johnston studied drama in high school and performed in a series of radio plays. She attended the Spence School in New York City and later USC.

In addition to her support for the La Jolla Playhouse, Johnston was interested in marine biology and supported both the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla and the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco.