Jay Flood: The Passing of a NatureBridge/Yosemite Institute Legend

Jay joined the board in 1981 and became Yosemite National Institutes board chair on July 1, 1984. Among many other impacts, he was instrumental in helping expand to Olympic National Park, including helping to secure a $800,000 line of credit from SeaFirst to establish the campus. He was also key in expanding the board and brought in professors, corporate leaders, artists (including Robert Redford), and experienced board directors and philanthropists. Jay encouraged the Education committee to extend its activities and helped encourage a leap forward in our curriculum. Under the leadership of Barry Bishop and Mel Marcus, this became NatureBridge’s Core Education Framework. 

From former Board Chair and Emeritus, Linda Brownstein: 

“We all called him Jay. He was a leader with style and led by example. I was privileged to have Jay as a mentor and to serve as Trustee with him for 20 years. Jay joined the board when we were just Yosemite Institute and saw us through our growth to open Headlands Institute and Olympic Park Institute. He was a multiplier, always opening doors with people and organizations. In the early days he served with many luminary Trustees including Caspar Weinberger, Gil Grovsvenor, Bill Anders, Robert Redford, and Galen Rowell. He had a hand in bringing many of them to the Board.

We were environmental pioneers bringing K-12 students to residential programs in the National Parks. He and Jack Walston always reminded us that the NPS was our senior partner. Jay served twice as Chair, first in our early years and later stepping in when the Chair had to resign.  

Jay helped recruit the environmental academic greats such as Barry Bishop, Mel Marcus, Kai Lee, and Garry Brewer, who created the lasting platform for our brilliant Core Educational Framework that continues to serve our 30,000 students each year. He helped bring new thinking to the board assisting in and/or recruiting women and people with diverse backgrounds around our board table. Jay’s voice always added wisdom to the many conversations at every critical juncture: natural disasters, financial challenges, new talent, the need to change, how to bring harmony.

He gifted his architectural prowess over the years to assist in many projects surrounding our growth. Yet he never took himself too seriously, bringing humor and levity whenever needed. He loved NatureBridge/Yosemite National Institutes, what we stand for, what we do every day for kids and the impact on their and the environment’s future and gave of himself tirelessly to help make our mission a reality. NatureBridge will always be grateful for the impact of this one man who meant so much. Jay will be missed. May his memory be a blessing.”

David “Jay” Flood was an architect who founded his firm in 1967 with a practice focused on the programming, master planning, and architectural design of winter resort areas across the United States. The company provided services in over 30 areas with projects including Sun Valley in Idaho, Stowe in Vermont, Snowmass, Vail and Keystone in Colorado, and Big Sky in Montana. Jay’s firm developed a widespread reputation for programming, planning, and design of multiple acclaimed athletic facilities including the widely respected temporary aquatics facility in Long Beach utilized for the 2004 Olympic Swimming Trials, over 10,000 multi-residentials, and 30 resorts.

Jay was a charter member of the Los Angeles Sports Council and served as a key advisor and executive for international sports competitions for more than 20 years. Jay played for his beloved Cal Bears as an undergraduate and the Olympic Club and was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1986. Some highlights of his leadership in aquatics:

• AAU Sr. National Championship Team outdoor 1957, 59
• Coach for the Cal Berkeley Freshmen Water Polo Team 1955
• Commissioner of Aquatics for the 1984 Olympic Games XXIII
• Raised thru Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee $175,000 for aquatics, swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming
• Director, Los Angeles Sports Festival 1991

From friend and former board member, John French: “To say that Jay was a legend, an inspiration, and a true YNI founding father would still understate his importance to the organization. His legacy will live on.”

We remained in touch with Jay over the years frequently updating him on NatureBridge’s evolving strategy, growth, new projects, and the challenges of working through fires, floods, pandemics, government shutdowns, and more. Below are some favorite quick notes that Jay sent to NatureBridge team members over the years:

• Nature hurts.
• All in goooood’s hands.
• Great management creates confidence.
• When we asked him to speak at the alumni reunion in 2018: “Happy to participate, maybe 2 minutes. Talk fast, say less.”
• After coming to a campus opening: “Congrats on a job well done. You helped create a memory to a fitting climax to a dream. Thank the team for us and keep up the great work on our shared mission. Best Jay and Julie.”
• A note to current board chair Sam Boren: “Thanks so much for hosting the dinner event at Yosemite and having the chance to meet the NatureBridge leadership. We have come a long way in 47 years. Thanks to so many dedicated individuals that believe in the mission. And thank you for all you have and are doing to guide the ship. Looking forward to the future… No more fires.”
• On April 1, 2020: “God bless. Thanks for your leadership. The mission will guide us through this most difficult of all that came before. My thoughts are with you and our wonderful staff. Again thank you for your guidance.”
• After receiving our birthday wishes: “Thanks. Older, not necessarily wiser but always hopeful.”
• After watching a video presentation by several team members: “Congrats to you and Steve for the update… It’s a great opportunity to create an exciting new way of connecting to our students, etc. Again, I look forward to new operating concepts... Education creates appreciation and results in conservation… Thanks for your leadership.”
• Continue the great management and leadership. I am so proud to have been associated with a great organization.
• And a final wonderful Jay Flood quip: “After a back procedure, I asked my doc if I could play golf again he said 'no'. I said 'thank you.'”