Thomas Johnston; Led Executive Search Firm

Thomas J. Johnston, former chairman of the Chicago-based international executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, has died. He was 72.

Johnston, who had homes in Belvedere and Pebble Beach, Calif., died Monday in Marin General Hospital of complications of a stroke suffered earlier this year.

He is credited with the national and international expansion of his firm, including the opening of offices in Los Angeles and London. Heidrick & Struggles is now one of the largest executive search firms in the United States and is hired to find leaders for the country’s major corporations.

Johnston joined the company as a consultant in 1956, became partner in charge of West Coast operations in 1970, was chosen president and chief executive officer in 1970 and was named chairman of the board in 1978. He retired in 1991.

A native of Oak Park, Ill., Johnston was educated at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minn., Columbia University and Loyola University in Chicago. He served in the Navy during World War II.

Johnston was a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows from 1971 to 1976 and was an adviser to the president of the University of Redlands from 1968 to 1973. He also served on the boards of the Knights of Malta, Robert Louis Stevenson School and Chalone Inc., and was former president of the University Club in Los Angeles.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, the former Elaine Berger; a son, John of San Francisco; four daughters, Elene Kapp of Santa Ana, Molly Johnston of Altadena, Anne Gardner of Pasadena and Karen Johnston of Larchmont, N.Y., two sisters and six grandchildren.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. today at St. Hilary’s Church in Tiburon, Calif., with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, Calif.

The family has requested that any memorial contributions be sent to the Knights of Malta, 465 California St., Suite 524, San Francisco, Calif. 94104, or to the donor’s charity of choice.