Huey Johnson, one of Marin County’s most ardent and active environmentalists who was credited for his role in preserving natural landscapes from the Marin Headlands and other parts of the world, died Sunday in his home in Corte Madera.
Mr. Johnson was 87 and died as a result of complications from a fall.
“As a former academic who specialized in the conservation of federal public land I believe Huey protected more land for public use than either John Muir or David Brower,” said Bern Shanks, a 40-year friend and colleague.
Mr. Johnson founded one of the nation’s largest environmental organizations, the Trust for Public Land, to expand public lands. While serving as the Nature Conservancy’s first western director from 1968 to 1972, Mr. Johnson worked to preserve West Marin open space including the Marin Headlands.
The Marin Headlands had been eyed by developers as the future Marincello development. After negotiations, the Nature Conservancy bought the land in a $6.5 million acquisition in 1972. The land was transferred to the National Park Service, which helped to establish the now 82,000-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
During his first term as governor, Gov. Jerry Brown tapped Mr. Johnson to serve as resources secretary in 1978. Shanks was hired by Mr. Johnson in 1980 to serve as the governor’s resources representative in Washington D.C. As he was in later life, Mr. Johnson was described by colleagues as a tenacious and tough boss with a great sense of humor.
Shanks recalled how Mr. Johnson would always only buy and wear used clothing, even when negotiating the support of high-ranking politicians and individuals.
“He was a lot of fun to be around, but when he wanted to do something he could be very stubborn,” Shanks said from his home in Washington state on Tuesday. “He had an amazing network of supporters, many of them wealthy and influential people. Yet he was always very modest and unpretentious.”
Following his tenure with the state, Mr. Johnson founded the Resource Renewal Institute, a Mill Valley environmental think tank organization, in 1982. There he worked to establish sustainable fisheries projects and promoted oversight of national parks management through helping to establish groups such as the Grand Canyon Trust. Up until his death, Mr. Johnson was a strong advocate for the removal of ranching operations within the Point Reyes National Seashore.
Friends and colleagues described Mr. Johnson as a tough, outspoken, unwavering and principled leader in his advocacy for environmental protections.
“In spite of all the challenges that the environment is facing, Huey’s message to all of us was one of optimism, that we have to hang in there and be prepared, that opportunities arise and we have to be ready to take advantage of those,” said Deborah Moskowitz, president of the Resource Renewal Institute.
Throughout his life, Mr. Johnson’s work ethic and personality endeared him to many colleagues and friends.
“He would sort of see people like myself that he liked and would take us under his wing,” Shanks said. “And he changed my life more than anybody else, more than my own father.”
Chance Cutrano, director of programs with Resource Renewal Institute, decided to join the organization at the recommendation of a board member five years ago. After just two conversations with Mr. Johnson, Cutrano said he flew from South America to California and began working on a review of the management of Bay Area national parks.
Cutrano said working with Mr. Johnson was similar to joining a master’s program, with Mr. Johnson coming by weekly with thick reports or books for him to read.
“I don’t know many people that had that internal drive and that quality to be at once so willing to get out there and stand up for something and at the same time so loving and welcoming of so many people,” Cutrano said. “I’m in my 20s and I would consider Huey to be one of my best friends in my entire life.”
Mr. Johnson had been working on his memoir for about two years, in which he hoped to leave behind gems of wisdom and lessons on how to be an effective environmentalist, Moskowitz said. Shortly before Mr. Johnson’s death last week, Moskowitz was able to deliver good news to him: his book will be published. In response to the news, Mr. Johnson replied, “Huzzah” — a word he often used in celebration.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sue Johnson; his daughter Megan Johnson; his son Tyler Johnson and his wife, Jill; two grandsons, Miles and Bay; and nephew, Zack.
