Richard Osborn Fuller

Richard Osborn Fuller (1944–2025)

Richard O. Fuller, age 81, of St. Paul, passed away peacefully November 15, 2025. Born on February 1, 1944, and raised in Columbus, Ohio, he was the first of three children. His father was a professor of geology, his mother did graduate work in genetics, and both were avid birders who shared their love of nature with their children. From them, Richard absorbed a lifelong philosophy of scientific humanism. A self-described bright but unfocused student, he attended public school until age 15, spent a year in Germany, and completed his education at a boys’ private day school.

Richard worked for 14 years at the Hungry Mind/Ruminator bookstore in St. Paul and was a longtime member of the Twin Cities Friends (Quaker) Meeting. He also participated in various political causes -- most recently, resistance to the construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline in northern Minnesota.

In 1994, Richard embraced his calling as a Gaia Troubadour, a modern messenger who shared ideas, stories, and poetry to inspire love and care for Gaia, the Earth as a single living organism. He performed and spoke to small groups, wrote extensively, and encouraged others to express their own connection to Gaia. Throughout the St. Paul–Minneapolis community, he brought wisdom, humor, courage, and gentleness to every conversation about Gaia. He was committed to connecting spirituality and science, helping others see the relationship between human insight and the natural world.

Richard’s quirkiness, wit, and joy brightened the days of everyone he met. Friends cherished the deep conversations they had with him — particularly those exploring what it means to be a caring and aware human being in this messy and precious world. He delighted in listening to the music of J. S. Bach, bicycling along the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, visiting Pig’s Eye Lake in his small fiberglass sailboat, and reading books aloud with his life-partner, Betsy Raasch-Gilman. He would never pass up a baked potato smothered in mushroom spinach brandy and cheese sauce.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Osborn and Marjorie Hall Fuller; sister, Christine Fuller Weyer; and brother-in-law, Steven Weyer. He is survived by his loving partner of 40 years, Betsy Raasch-Gilman; his sister Teri (Philip) Gennarelli; their daughters Hannah and Evelyn; his brother Jonathan “Nate” Fuller; and nephew Michael Weyer, as well as the many friends and community members whose lives he touched with his insight, joy, and humanity.

A memorial service honoring Richard’s life will be held at the Twin Cities Friends Meeting, 1725 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, on Saturday January 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Twin Cities Friends Meeting or to the Center for Climate Disobedience