See Photos. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF THE COYHAIQUE HOSPITAL WHERE NORTHFACE FOUNDER DOUGLAS TOMPKINS WAS TREATED AND PASSED AWAY South American news stations reported that Mr. Tompkins was in the water for a lengthy period before he was rescued. In 1992, he formed the Conservation Land Trust, which created Pumaln Park, a nature sanctuary and Chiles largest public park. The remote expanses of southern Chile, facing ecological threats from human activity like logging, offered opportunities for the type of large-scale conservation envisioned by this husband-and-wife team. Please read this powerful piece, Douglas Tompkins: A Force for Nature, to learn about his legacy. Douglas Tompkins, pictured in Argentina in 2009, died on Tuesday in a kayaking accident in Patagonia. He flew airplanes, he climbed to the top of mountains all over the world, his daughter told The New York Times. [6], Tompkins was born in Conneaut, Ohio on March 20, 1943, the son of an antiques dealer and decorator. "The Iber Wetlands: Argentinas Preeminent Wildlife Reserve". In 1991, Mr. Tompkins bought the 42,000-acre Reihu Farm and founded the Pumaln Project, dedicated to the protection of the lands primeval native rain forest, which was being threatened by logging. In a report last year, The Atlantic attempted to explain the enormity of the couple's conservation efforts: They have purchased enough land in Chile and Argentina to equal an area the size of nearly two Rhode Islands, and they plan to donate these ice-coated peaks, red-rock canyons and coastal volcanoes to the respective governments in the form of national parks. In an extraordinary example of womens empowerment, a market in Indias Manipur state has been run entirely by women for the past 500 years. According to a 2012 profile in Earth Island Journal. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. He flew off and there we were on the beach, she said. Douglas Tompkins, an outdoorsman, environmental activist, conservationist and entrepreneur who co-founded the North Face clothing company in San Francisco, died Tuesday in a kayaking accident in southern Chile. Tompkins Buell co-founded the Esprit clothing and The North Face brand with her first husband, Doug Tompkins whom she met when she picked him up while he was hitchhiking. "Doug got accused of being a Nazi or planning to bring down girls and give them abortions," Chouinard says. The accident took place in Chile, where Tompkins lived with his wife Kristine McDivitt, whilst he was kayaking with a group of five people. [18] Subsequently, in 1989 and 1994, he sold his interests in the other Esprit entities around the world. With Tompkins at the helm, Esprit ballooned in popularity, eventually reaching $1 billion in sales. [21] Through creating public-access infrastructure, including trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, and a restaurant, Tompkins sought to promote wilderness experience, in hopes of inspiring a deeper environmental ethic in the park's many thousands of visitors. Before the rescue, Tompkins spent a considerable amount of time in waters under 4 degrees Celsius, or under 40 degrees Fahrenheit, The New York Times reported, citing a local news story. The high-school dropout turned outdoors-loving mogul turned eco-baron devoted the last quarter of his life to conservation advocacy. He later eschewed the business world to focus on environmentalism, purchasing large swaths of land for . [29], In the area around Pumalin, the Hornopiren, Vodudahue, Ventisquero, Pillan, and Reihu farms serve as exemplars of small-scale ecological agriculture and as informal park ranger stations. Dec. 8, 2015. Tompkins bought more than 2 million acres of land and set about creating private parks that kept rainforests from development across Chile and Argentina before his death at 72 on Tuesday. "People thought he was a spy at first," says Claudio Seebach, a former adviser to Chilean president Sebastin Piera. Clinton Donor Gave $500,000 to Fund Trump Sexual Misconduct Accusers", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susie_Tompkins_Buell&oldid=1121584509, This page was last edited on 13 November 2022, at 02:09. Log In. He founded the North Face Inc, co-founded Esprit and various environmental groups, including the Foundation for Deep Ecology and Tompkins Conservation. Douglas Tompkins, the founder of North Face and Esprit, died in the terrain he was devoted to conserving. [36] Eco Barons, Edward Humes' 2009 account of the "dreamers, schemers, and millionaires who are saving our planet," uses Tompkins as the first example of this new group of philanthropists. On Tuesday, The North Face, which is now owned by VF Corp. of Greensboro, North Carolina, paid tribute to its co-founder on Instagram. And Im just kind of a laid-back zen buddhist, and just say, well, Ill do what I can and so be it., Laughing, Tompkins shot back: Well, you better tell my buddy Yvon, the good buddhist, he has to take his bodhisattva vows, which means that before self-enlightenment, one has to end the suffering in the world., In the aftermath of his death, Conservacion Patagonica expressed some concern over the future of his plans. Chouinard paddled safely to shore, but Tompkins and Ridgeway, sharing a two-seater, capsized 200 yards from land, in water below 40 degrees. In 1989, the Japanese art publisher Robundo published Esprit, the Comprehensive Design Principle (.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}ISBN4947613203), which documented the all-encompassing design principles that Tompkins had created for the brand.[17]. Kris Tompkins continues the work they started together as president of Tompkins Conservation. At the time Chouinard, who first met Tompkins climbing as a teenager, was a private in the Army and stationed nearby. The path was not always smooth, however. Beginning in the mid-1960s, he and Susie Tompkins Buell, his first wife, co-founded and ran two companies: the outdoor equipment and clothing company The North Face and the Esprit clothing company. Although the couples environmental activism won them many accolades and praise, they also encountered controversy and criticism. The kayak capsized and Tompkins fell into the icy water. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. What he was doing for conservation has been a complete turnaround.. They have also lived in Santa Barbara, CA and Milpitas, CA. Doug was special to many of us, the company wrote. We are the ones who keep putting obstacles in our own way by buying more land. We favour those who choose to be guided by ethical values, who respect ecosystems and all their life forms. In 1991 he bought the Reihu farm, a semi-abandoned farm at the end of the Reihu Fjord, planning to set aside 42,000 acres (17,000ha) of this unique forest from possible exploitation. ", (Tompkins climbing Mt. Find Doug Thompson's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records. Never Stop Exploring was the company mantra. In February 2012, Tompkins Buell stopped supporting President Barack Obama, citing disappointment with his leadership on environmental issues including climate change. Concerned about the environmental impact? 2023 Patagonia, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The story of the Ukraine crisis as told by men, women, and soldiers. A former U.S. Forest Service firefighter, he has traveled extensively and covered a wide variety of issues during his career, including the Beijing Olympics, Hurricane Katrina, illegal American tourism in Cuba and a 40-day cross country car trip commemorating the history of automobile travel in America. Susie Tompkins Buell (ne Russell; born 1943)[2] is an American entrepreneur, businesswoman and a donor to progressive causes. He graduated from Indian Mountain School, a pre-prep school in Lakeville, Connecticut, in 1957. Doug was a dear mentor to our company and a good friend to many of us here at Patagonia. 11. In an interview with La Tercera, the co-pilot of the rescue helicopter said the craft had no mechanism to airlift Tompkins directly from the water. Because we know prioritizing durability results in consuming less energy, wasting less water and creating less trash. In 2006, Thompson won in a landslide, defeating Robert Fowler with 85% of the vote. He used to always tell me, Dont let your imagination get in the way of your potential. He is gone, but he will not be forgotten.. Please remove some items to proceed. These tents have been widely copied throughout the world. [1][5] Plain Jane was making $2 million a year by 1970. While there, he borrowed a motorcycle to ride across Chile. He was rescued but later died from severe hypothermia. No one can last an hour in.. ", One area in which Tompkins was not cavalier, of course, was land preservation, and after news of his death spread, Tompkins' grand vision for his holdings got one more boost. 2. Pumaln Park was one of Tompkins earliest acquisitions. or. Douglas Tompkins, an outdoorsman, environmental activist, conservationist and entrepreneur who co-founded the North Face clothing company in San Francisco, died Tuesday in a kayaking accident . Tompkins acknowledged the local objections to an outsider buying up land in Chile, but he believed the risks of going up against the Chilean government outweighed doing nothing: First of all, you never know if youre doing to right thing, he once said. Four years ago, Tompkins and Chouinard made their last first ascent in . His conviction, said Chin, allowed him to take life one battle at a time. Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face and clothing company Esprit, died today, at the age of 72. He already loved Chile and Argentina, from all his trips to Patagonia, and land there was cheap, so he and Kristine a former Patagonia CEO who Tompkins married in 1993 began acquiring immense swaths of it. The kayak capsized and Tompkins fell into the icy water. Also known as Dwight L Thompson, L Douglas, Dwan L Thompson. Doug Thompson. Both men described it as the best and most important expedition of their lives. The husband and wife team also donated land to create coastal national parks in Chile and Argentina. A local prosecutor, Pedro Salgado, told radio Bo Bo that the lake was known for unpredictable weather conditions. An earlier version referred to Laurence Alvarez-Roos as the groups guide, rather than a group member. An early adventure junkie, he opened the North Face in 1964 with his first wife, Susan. In 1971 they incorporated the booming business under the name "Plain Jane", which later became Esprit. Douglas Tompkins, co-founder of North Face, dies after Chile kayak accident, Patagonias controversial new national park, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. People named Doug Thompson. There wasnt anything we were afraid of, there wasnt anything we couldnt figure out how to do, said Susie Tompkins Buell, who was married to Mr. Tompkins until 1989. Ahead of the trip, Tompkins, 72, had described the planned 30km paddle with his longtime buddies as just for old times sake, to keep our hand in there and get a little bit of muscle tone.. Douglas Tompkins, famed environmentalist and co-founder of The North Face, died on Tuesday after a kayaking accident in the Patagonia region of southern Chile. Yvon Chouinard, 77, founder of clothing company Patagonia, was in a kayak with Jib Ellison, founder and CEO of sustainability consulting firm Blu Skye. It would provide safe habitat for a range of native species, and encourage a transition from "an exploitative economy" to "an economy of conservation and ecotourism". [20] The Tompkinses' conservation efforts focused on preserving wild landscapes and biodiversity. The brand was greatly success and he sold it in 1968 in order to dedicate himself to the brand Esprit with his first wife, Jane Tise. That trip's holy grail was Mount Fitz Roy, a 11,000-foot rock tower in Argentina where they were trapped by storms. Orders are shipped within 1-2 business days and arrive within 3-10 business days. The Conservation Land Trust (a U.S. environmental foundation) donated these protected lands to Fundacin Pumaln (a Chilean foundation), for their administration and continual development as a type of National Park with public access under a private initiative. He most recently visited our headquarters in Alameda, CA in 2013 and again inspired us to live a life of outdoor exploration. Tompkins, who co-founded North Face and Esprit, died in the ecological empyrean of Patagonia that he had sought to protect after cashing out of his life in America and moving to South America. As The New York Times noted, this included buying more than 740,000 acres of land in Chile and turning most of it into Pumaln Park, a nature sanctuary. [12] Two years later, Tompkins sold out his stake to Kenneth "Hap" Klopp for $50,000, using the profit to join his wife in co-founding Esprit, a fashion house. Jimmy Langman, editor of local outdoor magazine Patagon Journal, described Tompkins as responsible for establishing a conservation ethic in Chile and Argentina. Despite vital signs, and the fact that he had not been resuscitated for a long period, we tried everything possible, thinking we could turn the situation of hypothermia into our favour, but after several hours we realised that the situation was irreversible. Ive never come in personal contact with anybody who could think so big, said Tompkins Imhoff. 'Zero visibility' conditions: All roads to Tahoe are closed, One of the largest movie theaters in SF to close permanently, Report: Matthew McConaughey has a massive Salesforce paycheck, 'Really cool sight': Rare waterspout forms in Northern California, A different horse': Bay Area will likely continue to see rain, Man shot dead near San Francisco Ferry Building, My meal at this landmark SF spot was too expensive to be so bad, 'Lady in the fridge' murder victim ID'd as Bay Area mother of 3, Buster Posey has weak answer on Giants owner's politics, Avalanche slams into Tahoe apartment building amid blizzard, These East Bay gems are a haven for music lovers, What it looks like inside Coit Towers former apartment. Story of the North Face and clothing company Esprit, died today, at helm! Or planning to bring down girls and give them abortions, '' says Claudio Seebach, a adviser... Million a year by 1970 Robert Fowler with 85 % of the Ukraine crisis told... 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