Nearly a century ago, the Wolfe family helped inspire the creation of the Columbus Zoo.
Today, they are helping create its next great chapter.
Through a transformational gift that will bring the John F. Wolfe Aquarium to life, the family continues a relationship with the Zoo that began with six Alaskan reindeer and a belief that Columbus deserved something extraordinary.
The Wolfe family's story is woven into the story of Central Ohio itself. For generations, they have helped shape experiences, opportunities, and institutions that continue to serve millions of people throughout the Central Ohio region.
Yet among the many organizations touched by their generosity and leadership, one relationship stands apart.
It is a relationship nearly 100 years in the making.
It is the story of the Wolfe family and the Columbus Zoo.
The Family That Helped Build a City
The Wolfe family's story in Columbus began in the late nineteenth century, when brothers Robert F. Wolfe and Harry P. Wolfe established a successful shoe business that would eventually grow into one of the region's most influential enterprises.
Over the decades, the family's leadership expanded into publishing, broadcasting, banking, real estate, and civic engagement. Through each generation, one principle remained constant: Success carried with it a responsibility to invest in the community.
That philosophy helped shape institutions that have become woven into daily life throughout Central Ohio. From healthcare and education to parks, conservation, arts, and culture, the Wolfe family's leadership helped strengthen the community they called home. Their impact can be found throughout Columbus, often in places people experience every day without realizing the role the family played in helping make them possible.
Long before the idea of an aquarium bearing their name existed, the Wolfe family had already spent generations investing in the future of the city around it.
Where the Columbus Zoo Story Begins
The connection between the Wolfe family and the Columbus Zoo stretches back as far as the Zoo itself.
In 1926, after visiting the Saint Louis Zoo, Harry P. Wolfe shared a simple, but visionary, idea with Columbus leaders:
“Columbus should have something like this.”
That belief helped spark public enthusiasm for the creation of a zoological park in Columbus.
Soon afterward, the Wolfe family donated six Alaskan reindeer that had been brought to Columbus for a holiday celebration. Those reindeer became the first animals associated with what would eventually grow into the Columbus Zoo.
The donation may have seemed modest at the time.
Yet those six reindeer became the first animals in what would grow into one of the nation’s leading zoological institutions. Nearly 100 years later, the relationship that began with those animals continues to shape the future of wildlife conservation and education in Central Ohio.
As the Columbus Zoo evolved, so did its relationship with the Wolfe family. Through changing generations, new milestones, and an ever-expanding mission, the connection endured.
What began with six reindeer became a shared story spanning nearly a century.
"The Columbus Zoo has been woven into my family's life for generations. We feel so fortunate to be able to continue our support of this incredible community asset and we are especially excited about the John F. Wolfe Aquarium and the impact it will have for generations to come." – Katie Wolfe Lloyd
Today, visitors can still trace that connection through the Zoo’s history. It is a reminder that some of the most enduring legacies begin with a simple belief in what is possible.
A Legacy That Reflects History and Heart
The connection between the Wolfe family and the Zoo never faded.
Through board leadership, philanthropic support, conservation initiatives, and moments both large and small, each generation found new ways to strengthen the institution their family helped inspire nearly a century earlier.
The relationship has been marked by moments that reflect both the family's history and their enduring connection to the Zoo.
In 2019, the Wolfe family was invited to name four Mexican wolf pups born at the Columbus Zoo, a fitting tribute to a family whose support of the organization spans generations. The pups, named Sol, Snow, Fresco, and August, represented another chapter in a story that began nearly a century earlier.
In 2025, that connection became even more personal. An Asian elephant calf born at the Columbus Zoo was named Rita Jean in honor of Rita Jean Wolfe, Katie Wolfe Lloyd's sister and a beloved member of the Wolfe family. Known for her compassion, humor, and commitment to both people and animals, Rita Jean dedicated her life to serving the community and supporting causes she cared deeply about. Her name now lives on through a new generation of elephants, connecting her legacy to a conservation organization that held special meaning for her family.
Together, these moments serve as reminders that the relationship between the Wolfe family and the Columbus Zoo has never been defined solely by philanthropy. It is a connection built through generations of shared history, service, and a lasting commitment to wildlife and conservation.
Today, that legacy continues through family members who remain actively involved in guiding the future of the organization. Their leadership and service help advance the Zoo's mission of empowering people and saving wildlife while ensuring future generations can experience the same sense of wonder that has inspired guests for decades.
"A lot of organizations hope for relationships that last decades. The relationship between the Wolfe family and the Columbus Zoo has lasted for over a century. That's extraordinary, and it's something we're deeply grateful for." – Daniel P. Gusty, Chairperson, Columbus Zoo Board of Directors
What began with six reindeer has become a lasting partnership rooted in a shared belief that connecting people with wildlife can change lives.
The Next Chapter: Wolfe Aquarium
For nearly 100 years, the Wolfe family has played a role in the story of the Columbus Zoo.
Now, they are helping write its future.
The Robert F. Wolfe and Edgar T. Wolfe Foundation’s transformational $50 million gift, the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the Columbus Zoo Conservation Parks, will make the John F. Wolfe Aquarium possible.
The gift is historic in its scale, but its significance reaches far beyond dollars. It connects the Zoo’s earliest chapter to its future, linking the family who donated the Zoo’s first animals with the creation of one of its most ambitious projects.
When it opens, Wolfe Aquarium will invite guests to explore aquatic ecosystems both locally and from around the globe, discover the remarkable diversity of life beneath the surface, and better understand the critical role healthy waterways and oceans play in sustaining life on Earth.
The Aquarium will expand opportunities for conservation, education, research, and guest engagement while inspiring people of all ages to care about wildlife and the natural world.
Just as importantly, it will help inspire future conservationists, scientists, educators, and advocates whose journeys may begin with a single visit.
"One of the things I love about this project is that it connects people to something bigger than themselves. Whether it's an Ohio stream, a coral reef, or the open ocean, every drop of water is connected. Wolfe Aquarium will help people understand those connections and why protecting them matters." – Tom Schmid, President and CEO, Columbus Zoo, The Wilds, and Wolfe Aquarium.
In many ways, Wolfe Aquarium reflects the same spirit that has guided the family for generations: investing today in opportunities that will benefit the community tomorrow.
For Generations Yet to Come
The story of the Wolfe family is ultimately a story of vision.
It is the story of generations who saw opportunity not only in building successful businesses, but in helping build a stronger community.
It is the story of a family that believed institutions matter.
That education matters.
That conservation matters.
That investing in future generations matters.
Nearly a century ago, the Wolfe family helped welcome the first animals to the Columbus Zoo. Today, they are helping create a destination that will inspire millions of future guests to care about wildlife and the natural world.
The name on Wolfe Aquarium honors a family whose impact can be seen throughout Columbus. Its presence next to the Zoo honors something even deeper: A relationship that began at the very beginning and continues to shape what comes next.
For generations, the Wolfe family has helped build the institutions that define Central Ohio.
Through Wolfe Aquarium, that legacy will continue to inspire, educate, and connect people with wildlife for generations to come.
