The energy of Jay Steven Moynihan, 63, returned to the universe on Nov. 6, 2016.
Over the years, Jay dedicated his life to teaching and serving others through his work as a community resource development educator with Shawano County University of Wisconsin-Extension, facilitator, lawyer, blog author and researcher.
His passion for community planning, economic development, and workforce development benefited many across the country and reached globally. His recent work in these areas focused heavily on brain development of youth, pre-natal through age 5, and its impact on workforce dynamics.
Jay was an integral member of many community organizations, often facilitating meetings, providing background research and helping lead community initiatives to improve the lives of others. He truly loved and lived his work and would often return to the office on Monday excited about conversations that had taken place at a gas station, coffee shop or restaurant over the weekend that helped focus his programming to improve the human condition in his community.
Jay was also passionate about nature and the natural sciences. He was actively involved in research on the social hierarchy and inherent and learned behavioral patterns of primates, ants and various species of birds, especially crows. It was not uncommon to find him studying the floral and faunal residents of Navarino Nature Center, one of his favorite places to learn and relax. His observations of nature’s social and biological blueprints were instrumental in his most current and innovative work on epigenetics. He had a strong desire for his research to continue and identified a research successor in his final days. When the research is published, Jay’s memory will be honored by those who integrate his observations and interpretations in their own efforts to advance the science.
Jay was also a national expert in rapid climate change. He was a co-author of several award-winning climate change publications, including “Climate Change Handbook: A Citizen’s Guide to Thoughtful Action” and author of the blog
“Adaptation Factory,” which included his musings on the economic, societal and behavior instabilities of communities during our current geologic time period, the Anthropocene. When talking with friends, he expressed his extreme disappointment in not being immortal so that he could document how societies adapt to the “rapid simplification” he predicts will occur with progressive climate instabilities.
Outside of work, Jay was an ardent fan of radio shows (NPR and The Fireside Theatre), music of all genres, art of all genres, photography (he was a nationally published photographer), movies, astronomy, fine Japanese paper, fountain pens, fine pencils and briefcases. He was a brilliant, eclectic man whose work, wit and humor forever changed people’s lives for the better. Those that knew him well would likely agree that he was “one of a kind,” an intense shining star, who in death is now free to explore the galaxy unimpeded by his earthly body.
Jay, being the private and humble man that he was, wished not to have a formal observance of his passing. He was truly perplexed that there were “other conspecifics that may have affection for him.” For those conspecifics wanting to honor his life, he asked that you participate in a Klingon Death Ritual. To participate, you simply raise your head and howl for several seconds to alert the dead that a Klingon warrior will soon be arriving.
Jay is survived by a brother, Michael, of Milwaukee; a sister, Maureen, of Tucson, Arizona; and a long-term friend and confident, Su Neuhauser, of Ashland; as well as many friends in Shawano, Ashland and across the world.
If seeking to honor Jay, please consider donating to his “outdoor office,” Navarino Nature Center, in his memory.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements.
Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.