Brian O’Neill, Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area since 1986—one of the longest serving National Park Service superintendents—died May 13, 2009 from a complication following a heart operation. He was 67 years old, and a legendary public servant. I wrote the following piece in memory of what he taught me about partnership over many years of working together. We will all miss him terribly. His life and work will be celebrated this Friday, May 29, in a memorial service at Crissy Field in San Francisco.To read more about Brian see the GGNRA website: In Memory of Brian O'Neil.
Brian O'Neill lived partnerships! As an organizational consultant for more than 35 years I've seen many, many leaders talk about collaboration, authenticity, empowerment and partnering, but few modeled it like Brian. This post is in gratitude for the vision and energy he shared with so many of us.
I first worked with him during the founding of the Headlands Center for the Arts in the early 1980s. A master plan completed for the new GGNRA after it was created in the 1970s designated the old Fort Barry (out in Rodeo Valley, Marin County) as a potential art center. A colleague charged with its planning involved me in public workshop with artists and then on the board of the fledgling organization. Brian was the Superintendent, and we needed approval by him and the GGNRA to be accepted as a "Park Partner" and get the privilege of moving to Fort Barry and taking responsibility for its adaptive reuse. It was the first time I was exposed to "partnering" as a central strategy in GGNRA's stewardship plans.
We soon learned something fundamental about Brian and about the park. No-one was in a hurry. The National Park Service is programmed to geologic time. As frustrating as this was at first, I began to see that this approach was very sound. It weeded out the fainthearted, and left the GGNRA with Park Partners that are 100% committed to their various endeavors.
It took us two years to convince Brian and the others that we were serious. But our vision of exploring the relationship between natural and human creative processes was a vibrant one and found a responsive audience. Brian showed up at our events. He encouraged us when things slowed down. He linked us with others who could help. He backed us when we took risks. It took years to plan and open the Center, but now it is a nationally recognized artist in residence institution with 13 renovated buildings at Fort Barry—and understands what partnership means.
This initial experience led to a long standing relationship. I and my team at The Grove subsequently helped facilitate design charettes with the Discovery Museum at Fort Baker, public visioning workshops for the Presidio conversion, workshops with the Park Conservancy, mediation sessions regarding Alcatraz, and transportation planning in West Marin. I learned how Brian would hold an idea, nudge others, wrap everything in good humor, create more space for involvement, let go, and persist. It was always a team effort.
Of the many positive memories of Brian, one that continues to inspire me was a special meeting he convened at the time the Marin Community Foundation was looking for some big ideas they could fund with the recently received Buck Trust proceeds -- designated for annual giving to the "needy of Marin."
Brian and the top staff of GGNRA and the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy plus many of the Park Partners gathered out at Fort Cronkhite for a two day brainstorming session. We graphed out the history of the park, mapped out the capabilities and interests of the Park Partners, and came up with an idea inspired by Brian's vision of a true partnership-based park operation. We came to the realization that the GGNRA was, in addition to being an incredible natural wonder, was also home to one of the greatest concentrations of gifted environmental educators that any of us knew about. These people were the teaching and leadership staff of the various Park Partners, NGOs like the Marine Mammal Center, the YMCA, the Headlands Institute, the Discovery Museum, the Headlands Center for the Arts, Crissy Field, and Fort Mason. Because of their non-profit nature, most worked hard just to make ends meet, and had few resources for additional activities—like special conferences to share learning, or research and publications, or developmental activities that might flow from interactivity between partners. The idea of establishing a Marin Education Park emerged. We compared the idea to a drip irrigation system, where a constant, but modest funding stream would support cross-Partner developmental and communication activities, and support the flourishing of the park's community of experiential educators. I remember how excited Brian got when this idea emerged full flower.
We didn't get the grant (a geriatric center was chosen), but this idea may yet come to fruit in the GGNRA's latest development, the opening of Cavallo Point at Fort Baker and creation of the Institute at the Golden Gate by the GGNPC.
Brian didn't just talk partnership. He actively cultivated the parternship-based culture of the GGNRA. It has emerged as a shining example of how a diversity of relationships makes an organizational eco-system strong and resilient. It represents the hard-to-assess, beating heart of this great community of stewards.
I'm stepping into elderhood these days, only two years younger than Brian, and am experiencing an increasing number of friends who are passing on. Yes, it's a tragedy—for 67 is still young to our generation. Yes it's very, very sad to see a radiant life end. But a small miracle occurs when people like Brian pass. For now his spark, his inspiration, and his dedication to partnership is ours to continue. He would be the last to see himself as source of all that has flourished in the GGNRA. His gift was being willing to be a mirror and a container, and a truly receptive open space into which partnership energy could flow. And he did not hold it as his, but ours. He knew this was something alive, and would respond to love and nurture, which is what he provided.
My prayer is that we let his example light the fire of true public service in all the rest of our lives. That would be the tribute that will leave him smiling deep inside.
Thank you Brian, for your example.
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