A native of Montana, he graduated from Havre High School. At Princeton he majored in economics, played football and rugby, and roomed with Mark Softy, Bob Mast, Chris Dietemann ’75, and many others in Blair Tower. Hospitalized with a football injury, Verne met his future wife, Maura Mitchell, who was working as a nurse in the same hospital. Married in the Princeton Chapel in October 1981, Verne called it the happiest day of his life.
Verne began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. while studying accounting at New York University’s Graduate School of Business. In 1983 he was hired by Harvard Management Co. and moved with Maura to Boston, where their two sons, Ryan and Connor, were born. He rose to become the chief financial officer and executive vice president. In 1998 Verne was hired by John W. Henry & Co., and in 2003 he became president and chief executive officer of Commonfund. He retired in 2015 but remained active on several boards of directors for financial, investment, and educational organizations.
Verne was a devoted husband and father as well as a loving and generous man. He enjoyed annual family beach vacations, date nights with Maura, and watching movies and Boston sports with his sons. Verne loved reading: He was rarely seen without a book in hand.
The class extends condolences to his wife, Maura; sons Ryan and Connor; and brother Stuart.