John Emanuel Floodberg

June 20, 1944 - March 30, 2022

SAN DIEGO — John Emanuel Floodberg

June 20, 1944 – March 30, 2022

John Floodberg, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully, on March 30, 2022, having lived life to its fullest. Born in Oneida, New York in 1944, he moved with his mother to Chula Vista, CA at the age of 4. He was a San Diego resident the remainder of his life. After living briefly in the Mission Hills area of San Diego, he, his mother, and stepfather moved to the San Diego State University (SDSU) area where he spent the remainder of his elementary education, and junior high and high school years. He graduated from Crawford High School in 1962.

John began undergraduate classes at Mesa College soon after graduation while he determined the course of his professional career. He joined the National Guard and married his first wife, Judy Thomas, in 1965. They welcomed their only child, Jeffrey Floodberg, in 1968. Between 1965 and 1972, John worked as a draftsman for several architectural firms including R. G. Wheeler & Associates, Huxley-thoryk Architects, and Brian Paul & Associates. Unable to attend an architectural school at that time, he apprenticed for seven years, passing his oral and written boards on the first attempt. John was licensed in the state of California in 1981, and in Arizona in 1986. The first blueprints John put his architectural stamp on were for the Grove Gallery at the UCSD Crafts Center, built in 1982. It was a collaboration between John and his childhood friend, Ron Carlson, the Center’s Director.

John and his current wife, Nancy Dickinson Floodberg, met in 1971 when he volunteered to bring the San Diego Mental Health Association’s halfway house up to code; Nancy was the Director of the halfway house. They wed two years later and moved to a home in Pt. Loma

– the home he lovingly remodeled over the years and where Nancy, their eldest daughter and her family still reside.

John and Nancy welcomed their first child, Courtney Floodberg Yates, in 1978. John was working at that time as a job captain for Paul Thoryk & Associates. In 1980, John accepted a partnership with Lorimer • Case Architects, where he functioned as project architect. Significant projects included The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa, as well as multiple award-winning planned residential communities. It was during this time, with Nancy’s encouragement and support, that John earned his B.A. in Art with an emphasis in sculpture, graduating from SDSU in 1982.

In 1987, John and Nancy welcomed their second daughter, Tessa Floodberg Lapointe. That same year, John and a colleague formed the architectural firm of Comstock • Floodberg. In 1988, John was hired by the Resort Group to consult on the expansion of the Westin Resort in their new partnership with Takenaka, a 300-year-old Japanese construction company. John’s previous experience made him the logical choice to oversee this major project. It was also during this time that he was asked to sit on the Architectural Review Board of the City of Rancho Mirage. In addition, he accepted a position with the CA State Architectural Licensing Board as an oral examiner.

In 1991, John formed Floodberg Development, Inc. and, shortly thereafter, he and investor, Dennis Von Aldenbrook, began Mission Dunes Development Co. Together, they developed Prestwick Court, a high-end residential community located within the Mission Hills Country Club of Rancho Mirage. Given his reputation and expertise in construction, John was soon sought after as an expert witness in construction defect litigation. By 2002, this became the primary focus of Floodberg Development, Inc., and saw John traveling to states throughout the southwest.

Although his career path focused on construction and architecture, John’s passion continued to be in artistic expression; most notably sculpture and painting. There was always a creative piece in progress. He loved the Spanish Village in Balboa Park, where he dreamed of having his own studio. With a 10-year waiting list, he then considered opening a studio in Liberty Station, where he served as a member of the Arts Council.

When not consulting, developing, or creating, John enjoyed world travel, and athletic pursuits. He was fortunate to visit Tahiti, Europe, Mexico, and various states within the US. He was an avid surfer in high school, a boxer in college, and went on to enjoy running, body building, rowing, and cycling. In 1997, he was a member of the Leukemia Society’s Team in Training participating in a 111-mile Century Ride in Tucson, AZ. His interests also extended to antique black-powder guns, as well as cars, ranging from hotrods to Porsches.

In 2005, before John’s dream of a studio could be realized, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. As with any challenge he faced, he met this diagnosis with grace and determination. John led by example and never complained. He participated in a variety of research projects to better serve people living with Parkinson’s. He joined numerous support groups to both learn from, as well as lend experience and compassion to those sharing a similar journey. He took on and became a charter member of several emergent programs – notably Audability music therapy including singing, harmonica, piano, drumming and chair yoga. From 2015 until his passing in 2022, he was the only Parkinson’s participant in SDSU’S Adaptive Fitness Clinic, where graduate students in physical therapy and kinesiology work with physically challenged participants as they earn their degrees. One of his favorite pastimes was boxing at Rock Steady Boxing/downtown, where, at one point, he could knock out 130 punches in 45 seconds, and was affectionately known as “Big Daddy”.

In tribute to John’s memory, the family is establishing an endowment at SDSU to further the Parkinson’s training of Adaptive Fitness Clinic staff and students and provide scholarships to qualified Parkinson’s participants.

John is survived by his wife, Nancy, son, Jeff (Jena), and grandson Greyson, daughter Courtney (Joshua), and grandsons Kagen and Ryland, and daughter Tessa (Nick) and grandson Henry. He is also survived by sisters Jeanne Downs, Joanne Bonner, and Janet Thimell. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carrie Louise Robson, father, John E. Floodberg, Sr., stepfather, Jack Robson, and his brother, Ron Robson.

A private celebration of John’s life will be held March 17, 2023. The family encourages those desiring to donate in John’s memory to consider the San Diego Central County Parkinson’s Support Groups (https://www. sdccpsg.org, P.O. Box 82575, San Diego, CA 92138).