Rob Caughlan, known to friends and colleagues as a “planetary patriot,” a “happy warrior,” and the “Golden State Eco-Warrior,” died at his home in San Mateo on January 17th. He was 82.
his wife of nearly 62 years, Diana, passed away just four days prior, after a battle with lung cancer.
The news of his death brought grief, but also a sense of party, from environmentalists, political operatives, and friends. They remembered his passion, talent, and humor – and his dedication to making a difference while enjoying life.
“He always said the real winner in a surfing contest was the guy having the most fun,” recalled Lennie Roberts, a conservationist in San Mateo County and longtime friend. “He truly lived by that.”
“He’d walk into a room with a big smile. He was a gifted people person,” said Dan Young, one of the five original founders of the Surfrider Foundation. The association began in the early 1980s with a group of Southern California surfers steadfast to protect their coastline – and their waves.
They also aimed to challenge the stereotype of surfers as carefree individuals and demonstrate their ability to organize and advocate for significant causes, Roberts noted, referencing Caughlan’s 2020 memoir, “The Surfer in the White House and Other Salty Yarns.”
Before joining Surfrider in 1986, Caughlan worked as a political operative and environmental advisor during the Carter administration.Warner Chabot, a friend and recently retired executive director of the san Francisco Estuary Institute, explained that Caughlan’s career began in the early 1970s. He and David Oke formed the Sam Ervin Fan Club, supporting Senator Ervin’s leadership in the Watergate examination of President Nixon.
According to Chabot, Caughlan organized
