Mourning the Passing of Malcolm Margolin
October 27, 1940–August 20, 2025
It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Malcolm Margolin, founder of The California Institute for Community, Art & Nature and of Heyday Books, extraordinary and visionary historian, publisher, and author.
Malcolm was a spectacularly energetic and creative individual who helped bring the beauty and resilience of California Indian culture in general, and Ohlone culture and history in particular, to public awareness. A true force of nature, he founded the California Institute for Community, Art and Nature to promote three ideas: the importance of supporting California Indian sovereignty and life ways, the unique contribution of the City of Berkeley to social, political and cultural innovation and change, and the critical connection between nature and the arts.
Beloved by many, with an unending capacity for recounting a good story, he combined an exuberance for life and phenomenal creativity with a great sense of humor. All of us at California I CAN are in grief and mourning while also deeply grateful for having had the opportunity to work with Malcolm for much of the past decade. We look forward to carrying on with our ongoing California I CAN projects together with trusted advisors and our best ideas and energy. We will continue to produce our two annual festivals, engaging evenings with local authors, and to pursue Malcolm’s various projects that were in the works as a living tribute to his legacy and vision .
He will be deeply missed by all.
An online Zoom Celebration of Malcolm’s remarkable life will take place in 2026 and is being planned and organized by California I CAN. Date, time, speakers, and link will be posted here once they are confirmed.
“Malcolm Margolin, eccentric publisher and founder of Heyday in Berkeley, dies at 84” The San Francisco Chronicle, Aug 28, 2025
“Heyday founder Malcolm Margolin dies at 84” The Daily Californian, Sept 3, 2025
“‘A mighty redwood of a man has fallen.’ Remembering Malcolm Margolin, founder of Heyday Books” Berkeleyside, Aug 20, 2025