Obituary of Donald A St. Louis

Donald Andrew St. Louis, 89, passed away suddenly at the Lutheran Home in Clinton on Sunday, June 30th. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Andrew Henry St. Louis and Adeline Louise Von Waldtstedt, both of Schenectady. He graduated from New Hartford High School in 1942 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was a Radar Mechanic for B-29's on the Island of Tinian. After the war he returned to Utica and continued working for his father at the A.H. St. Louis & Son Co. where he soon ran the company as Vice-President. The company originally supplied Oxygen to regional hospitals and individuals as far away as Tuberculosis Sanitariums in Saranac Lake. The company grew to sell and fill both Medical and Industrial Gasses and to sell Welding Equipment and supplies. Donald took many courses in advanced welding techniques and became a consultant for local companies using exotic welding techniques to produce their products. To say that Donald was actively involved in the Utica community is an understatement. As early as 1954 he started using his business skills serving on boards of directors, either as a director or a chairman, for many local organizations. He began with the Mohawk Valley Workshop in 1954 (which became the Human Technologies Corporation), and then became involved with: MVCC, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Utica/Watertown, The Salvation Army Advisory Board, The American Welding Society, The Griffis AFB Military Affairs Committee, and others. He joined the Utica Rotary in 1968 and was President in 1979-80, District Coordinator, District Conference Chairman, and Assistant Governor. He was the recipient of many Rotary awards and 5 Paul Harris Fellow Recognitions. Donald also volunteered for ARC, the Presbyterian Home and Church, the Boilermaker, the Oneida County Office of the Aging and many other events and organizations. He was an instructor in Public Speaking for the Dale Carnegie Institute. He was a member of the John Birch Society and the American Legion. Donald was an active golfer and was a member and President (1983-4) of the Cedar Lake Golf Club. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jo; his sister Dorothy and her children, Susan & Mark; his children (and spouses): David, Timothy, Gail, Dana, Jodi, and Jon, as well as numerous Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Richard. At his request no services are planned, he is to be cremated and buried in Crown Hill Memorial Park at a later date convenient to his family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Utica Rotary Club, PO Box 323, Washington Mills, NY 13479.