With heavy hearts, we join so many in remembering Doug McConnell.
Doug was a storyteller who believed deeply in people doing good. He had a rare gift for seeing the heart of a story, whether it was about protecting a place, strengthening a community, or lifting up those quietly making a difference.
For Save The Bay, Doug told our story with care, warmth, and deep understanding. He recognized both the urgency of this work and the powerful connection between people, place, and wildlife. In so many moments, Doug was a ray of sunshine—generous with his voice, his time, and his belief in others.
He was a champion not just for our organization, but for countless nonprofits and changemakers across the Bay Area and beyond. For 23 years, Doug explored the hidden corners of the San Francisco Bay Area on Bay Area Backroads, and for the past 11 years he continued his storytelling and brought our region to life on OpenRoad. His legacy lives on through the stories he helped share and the goodness he amplified.
We send our heartfelt condolences to Doug’s family, his colleagues, and the many communities he touched. In gratitude and remembrance, we want to re-share a few of the stories Doug helped bring to life for Save The Bay—stories that reflect his curiosity, care, and deep love for this place.
Doug brought Save The Bay’s education program to life by highlighting a group of schoolchildren experiencing the Bay’s shoreline, many for the first time, and learning how they can help protect this special place
Doug also helped tell the story of Save The Bay’s founders for our 60th anniversary, highlighting how their actions sparked a movement that continues to protect the Bay today.
In 2025, Doug and the team at OpenRoad helped Save The Bay and partners bring the Hayward First Mile Levee to life—an innovative project that will transform our region’s approach to sea level rise protection.
