Honoring Rob Caughlan: A Life Dedicated to Protecting What He Loved
“Walking it out, just me and my board.” Image credit: Don Montgomery.
Dear Friends,
We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Rob Caughlan—a longtime ally of the Resource Renewal Institute, first president of the Surfrider Foundation, and a tireless protector of the California coast.
If there was ever a person who protected what he loved, it was Rob.
An activist, surfer, and unwavering advocate for public access to coastlands, Rob brought both passion and integrity to everything he did. He was also known among his friends by the affectionate nickname “Bird Legs,” a reminder of the joy, humor, and camaraderie he brought both in and out of the water. Rob understood, at a visceral level, that our coast is not just a place, but a shared inheritance—one that must be defended, cared for, and passed on whole. And he did it all with a winning smile and easygoing charm.
In his Forces of Nature interview with Huey Johnson, Rob recalled an early and defining moment in Surfrider activism: surfers organizing the largest clean-water actions of its time, successfully forcing woodpulp mills in Northern California to stop polluting the ocean. Modestly reflecting on that surprising victory against the logging industry, Rob said, “If surfers can do something good to make the planet a little bit better, anyone can.”
Later in his career, Rob continued that fight closer to home—working to protect public access to Martin’s Beach and standing up for the simple yet powerful idea that the coast belongs to everyone.
Rob showed us that effective advocacy can be both fierce and joyful—that persistence, community, and love for place are powerful forces for change. His legacy lives on in cleaner waters, protected shorelines, open access points, and the countless people he inspired to care more deeply and act more boldly.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Rob’s family, friends, and the many communities he touched.
