{"id":1189,"date":"2014-06-15T23:37:20","date_gmt":"2014-06-16T03:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/?page_id=1189"},"modified":"2014-06-15T23:37:20","modified_gmt":"2014-06-16T03:37:20","slug":"a-lasting-legacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/features\/a-lasting-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"A lasting legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Raether<\/a>

Raether mingles at the Chairman\u2019s Circle Dinner at New York City\u2019s Gramercy Park Hotel in October 2013.<\/p><\/div>\n

Longest-sitting board chair in College history to step down June 30<\/i><\/p>\n

Paul E. Raether \u201968, P\u201993, \u201996, \u201901 has served as a member of Trinity\u2019s Board of Trustees\u00a0 since 1989 and as its chair since 2002, making him the longest-sitting chair of the board in the history of the College. The Reporter<\/i> reached out to four people who know him well\u2013Peter Blum, Tom Johnson, Bill Reynolds, and chair-elect Cornie Thornburgh\u2013for their thoughts on his time at Trinity.<\/p>\n

Cornelia Parsons Thornburgh \u201980<\/strong>
\nChair-elect, Board of Trustees<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cTwo critical jobs exist on any large boat: helmsman and navigator. Without their skills and close partnership, there is a good likelihood the boat will flounder. Fair weather or foul, Trinity\u2019s helmsman, President Jones, has always been visible at the wheel with a marked chart to steer the ship by, a chart set by the Board of Trustees working with the administration. Similarly, the board relies most heavily upon another key member of the College\u2019s crew\u2013Paul Raether, our tried-and-true navigator.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe navigator is in charge of knowing where a vessel is at all times. By daylight, when buoys are easily visible and land is always in sight, this is an easy task. In the dark when landmarks are not apparent, the job of the navigator is crucial. Guiding a college is a 24\/7 job and one that requires constant vigilance.<\/p>\n

\"Raether<\/a>

Raether and a Dream Camper share the duties of table captain during a fine dining\/healthy eating event in 2011.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWith Jimmy Jones at the helm and Paul Raether as our navigator, Trinity has been blessed to steer a true course along both calm and choppy seas. Paul has been this board\u2019s navigator for close to 12 years. He has ensured Trinity navigates the increasingly tricky shoals that have developed in the current seascape that is American higher education.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy experience serving under Paul\u2019s watch has been both inspiration and guide as I prepare to take on the role of navigator as Trinity\u2019s next board chair. Fortunately, technology ensures that our retired navigator will never be out of range, and I look forward to relying upon his expertise and experience in mentoring my watch going forward. Thank you, Paul, for guiding our ship so ably.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peter Blum \u201972, P\u201912<\/strong>
\nFormer Member, Board of Trustees<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I joined the board in 2002, Paul was already at the head of the table\u2013and it was clear why he\u2019d earned his position as chairman. He was observant, and he listened hard. He was wise, informed, and decisive. He solicited others\u2019 opinions enthusiastically (genuinely and generously) but always had one of his own. He conveyed great respect for the people at the table, for the process, and for our institution. He set, by example, a very high bar, or, as the students might say, \u2018Don\u2019t show up unless you\u2019ve brought your A-game!\u2019<\/p>\n

\"President<\/a>

President James F. Jones, Jr. confers with Raether.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s more than leadership that defines Paul; it\u2019s loyalty. Paul makes enormous time for Trinity\u2013arriving on campus a day ahead of the rest of us, staying late (especially for football), attending faculty dinners\u2013these things take time and reflect brilliantly his fierce desire for Trinity to win, and not just within NESCAC. Paul\u2019s competitive spirit, and his pride in Trinity, are compelling and contagious\u2013and make you not want to let him or the institution down. You know he always has your back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs chair, Paul made it obvious that he needed you to contribute and that he wanted you to succeed. He was a leader for whom you\u2019d walk through walls\u2013and we did, as best we could\u2013his determination never flagged. All this, delivered with his quick laughter, tremendous stories, and great personal warmth.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach of us, all of us, should reflect upon the extraordinary, encompassing commitment that Paul has made to Trinity. We scored important wins on his watch, and our College is far the better for his having led us.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

William H. Reynolds, Jr. \u201971<\/strong>
\nSecretary of the College, Emeritus; Former Member, Board of Trustees<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Raether<\/a>

Raether speaks with alumna Remi Evans \u201911<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cPaul Raether provides commitment and performance across the full spectrum of his ever-busy life. Each educational institution that helped to shape his adulthood\u2013Colorado Academy, Trinity College, Dartmouth\u2019s Amos Tuck School\u2013has reaped the rewards of his time, his creative thinking, and his generosity. Trinity is beyond fortunate to count Paul among its leaders and alumni.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Paul as board chair, we had a team that met tough issues head on and jumped on opportunities with passion. We did so within the embrace of a leader who never failed to see the humor in life in all moments and who made sure everyone was heard. Paul was intentional about getting to know his board members and their interests and issues. As a result, the board\u2019s efforts and accountability to itself reflected Paul\u2019s energy and integrity. No one worked harder than Paul during his tenure.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul epitomizes those qualities of Trinity that I hold most dear. He is a leader by example and is with you in the trenches. He is a \u2018happy warrior,\u2019 and that infuses those around him with confidence. I can honestly say that Paul never forgets what you have said to him, and he never forgets his promises and decisions. That quality and the sincerity behind it embody being a Bantam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Raether<\/a>

Raether joins Shakira Ramos \u201902 and Patrice Ball-Reed \u201980 at the Long Walk Societies\/Wall of Honor Reception in October 2011.<\/p><\/div>\n

Thomas S. Johnson \u201962, P\u201997, H\u201905<\/strong>
\nFormer Member and Chairman, Board of Trustees<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cPaul Raether is one of the most low-key and self-effacing leaders that I have known. He doesn\u2019t project himself in a self-serving or egotistical way. If you observe his facial expressions and sense of humor, you\u2019ll see a person who leads by being a supporter and constant member of the group rather than by imposing his views in any way. He leads in a way that\u2019s very comfortable for people.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the most telling aspects of his character, in my observation of Paul, is that his financial contributions to Trinity were anonymous. I think it was I who finally had to go to him and explain that there\u2019s a constructive reason to put his name on a contribution, that we wanted him to be an example to others. It\u2019s very much for the good of the College. He came to it reluctantly, never really wanted anything for himself by way of ego satisfaction.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis dedication to the kind of hands-on education that Trinity College gives comes through in his actions and the supportive way in which he helps others to do their jobs. I think that securing the true liberal arts quality of the College would have to count as the overall summary of his accomplishments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Board<\/a>

Board Chair Paul Raether \u201968, P\u201993, \u201996, \u201901 offers his remarks at Commencement 2012.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Raether<\/a>

Raether lends a hand in cutting the ribbon to the newly restored Long Walk in October 2008, while President Jones, Jared Paletti \u201909, and Kathleen Kete, now Borden W. Painter, Jr. \u201958, H\u201995 Professor of European History, also take part.<\/p><\/div>\n

Photos by John Atashian, Al Ferreira, Nick Lacy, and John Marinelli<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Longest-sitting board chair in College history to step down June 30 Paul E. Raether \u201968, P\u201993, \u201996, \u201901 has served as a member of Trinity\u2019s Board of Trustees\u00a0 since 1989 and as its chair since 2002, making him the longest-sitting … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"parent":1069,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"showcase.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1189"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1189\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2014\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}