Notice of Alumni Passing

On behalf of the Camp St. Croix staff team,

It is with a true sense of loss that we want to inform you that Paul Heffron, beloved member of the Camp St. Croix alumni, passed away on September 27. His kindness, passion, and spirit touched so many of us, and he will be deeply missed.

Paul was the Camp St. Croix truck driver in 1954 and Pioneer Unit counselor in 1955. He remained a dedicated member of the community for the 70 years following his time on staff. 

During the summer of 2006, a visit with former camp director Jerry Manlove led to an alumni reunion with over 40 people in attendance (a number that would grow in the years that followed). During that visit, the Manlove alumni group reconnected and established themselves as a passionate and connected community. And from the subsequent reunions emerged the idea of gathering biographical sketches, stories, memories, and photos from the staff alumni. 

Paul wrote, compiled and edited, “Remembering Camp St. Croix: The Manlove Years (1950-1957). In the introduction, he said, “this book consists of remembering a past and recognizing its value… the experience of being on the Camp St. Croix staff, and the influence of Jerry Manlove had a profound effect on our lives. Putting this book together was my way of saying thank you to Jerry Manlove, Camp St. Croix and my fellow staff members.”

Paul shared his hope that the book would “show what a camp alumni group can become and how it can support its camp.” The book was published in 2010 and is a beautiful piece of camp history.

His family shared the following-

Paul was a former camp counselor at Camp St. Croix, a former United Church of Christ Minister, a Professional Musician and lifetime member of the Twin Cities Musician Union, and was involved with the founding of the HumanistsMN. His kindness, passion, and spirit touched so many of us, and he will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held on November 8th at 11:00 AM (social gathering at 10:30 AM and lunch following the service) at SummerHouse of Shoreview senior living community, located at 4655 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN 55126. We invite you to join us as we celebrate his life and share our memories.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to HumanistsMN, P.O. Box 582997, Minneapolis, MN 55458-2997 or Y Camp St. Croix, 532 Co Rd F, Hudson, WI 54106 in Paul’s name, to honor his commitment to causes he supported.

We are grateful for your love and support during this difficult time. Please share your favorite photos and memories of Paul with us so we can include them with the Celebration of Life Service.

With deepest sympathy,
The Heffron Family