Few people loved the Florida everglades more than Nathaniel “Nat” Reed.

The late 84-year-old devoted his life to conserving an ecosystem he saw as under siege. He was a prolific environmental advocate in his work as a government aide, Everglades Foundation founder, National Geographic board member, and Endangered Species Act co-author, among his numerous other contributions to non-profit advocacy.

“It would be perfect if I could catch one last, perfect salmon before I go,” Reed's son Adrian tells the Tampa Bay Times of his father's last ruminations.

And it was, in fact, a fishing trip on which Reed sustained injuries that would lead to his death. On July 3, Reed was fishing on Canada's Grand Cascapedia River when he fell, causing head