A pillar to our community
October 20, 2020
The Raptor Center
Paul Verret with Dr. Julia Ponder with great gray owl

The Raptor Center (TRC) remembers the legacy of Paul Verret, longtime supporter and friend who recently passed. 

Paul Verret releasing a great gray owl
Paul Verret releasing a great gray owl

Verret was a driving force for good in our community and was loved by many. With nearly three decades as the leader of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Verret advocated for such projects as the Mississippi Riverfront restoration, the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, and the Diversity Endowment Fund. 

From TRC’s beginning, Verret was a champion, trusted advisor, and friend. “Without Paul’s guidance and insight, it is doubtful that TRC would have been able to spread its wings. He will be deeply missed,” said Julia Ponder, DVM, MPH, TRC’s executive director. 

Paul Verret’s impact on The Raptor Center is undeniable. As a trustee of the Katherine B. Andersen Fund of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Paul helped support many projects at The Raptor Center. We mourn his passing and are immensely grateful that he is part of our story and that we had the honor to know him.