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May 2003

Nature preserve's 'king' remembered

John Golden gave thousands of school children tours of the nature trails.

A man who devoted much of his life to maintaining and improving the nature trails on the UNF campus will leave a lasting legacy among those he touched.

John Golden, 52, who had been UNF's chief nature trail ranger for nearly 20 years, died from lung cancer March 15 at his home. During a recent memorial on the island in Lake Oneida amid the spring splendor of his nature trails, Golden was remembered as a dedicated, passionate and caring man who touched many lives during his career at UNF and with the National Park Service.

Dr. Mauricio Gonzalez, vice president of Student and International Affairs, said he was impressed with Golden from the moment he met him.

"I was impressed with his sincere enthusiasm and knowledge and love of nature," he said. "His respect for nature is an inspiration to us and his dedication to what he believed in serves as an example to us in our daily lives."

"That we have lost John is a great sadness to us, but we are able to celebrate the legacy he leaves behind in all of the people who were fortunate enough to be affected by his love of nature," Gonzalez added. Golden's preference for actions rather than words was recalled by several of the speakers at the memorial. Aileen Miller of the Biology Department said Golden "was the king and this was his kingdom."

"He loved what he did, he loved the people he worked with, and he put his love into action. He was not a man of many words, but he was a man of action," she said.

David Fenner of the Philosophy Department recalled a UNF memorial service for Robert Lofton, the creator of the nature trail system. At the end of the service, he said Golden's deep booming voice could be heard promising, "We'll keep it green, Doc."

"It was a promise he kept with perfect dedication," Fenner said. "Now that John is no longer in a position to continue with that promise, it falls to us. We must honor his devotion to keep this place green. We keep him alive by keeping it alive," he emphasized.

Also speaking at the memorial were Dr. John Eisler of the Psychology Department, Dr. Ray Bowman of the Chemistry and Physics Department, Dan Tardona of the Timicuan Preserve, Craig Morris of the National Park Service, and Dr. Johnny Randall of the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and a former UNF faculty member.

Student Government President Hank Rogers announced the establishment of the John M. Golden Research Scholarship. Rod Grabowski of Institutional Advancement announced plans to expand the pavilion near the lake, renaming it the John M. Golden Environmental Education Pavilion. Donations for the project may be made to the UNF Foundation. In addition, a native garden is being planted on the island in Golden's memory.