St. Andrew's Ageless-Remarkable Saint Louisans Gala Celebrates 10th year

Informtation was provided by St. Andrew's Resources for Seniors System.

When the Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans concept was born in 2003, few would’ve guessed that a decade later,  the gala event would have raised over $1.6 million to help meet the needs of the older adult population in the St. Louis area, while playing a critical role in changing the face of aging in our region.

Over the past 10 years, a total of 240 older adults have been recognized for their incredible contributions well past the traditional age of retirement. And as the St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System prepares to host its 10th annual Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans gala, it’s unveiling another amazing class of active and engaged older adults who are using their “golden years” to travel, continue careers and embark on new ones, and lend their time and talents to their favorite charities.

This year’s class of Ageless honorees includes two-term Missouri Senator Betty Sims, who remains committed to improving the health, economic and social well-being of women and children in the state; the first African-American female manager of the U.S. Postal Service in St. Louis, Delores Betts-Mars, who now serves as a supporter, mentor and current board treasurer of Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club; Dr. Norm Freiberger, a retired dentist who, after 40 years in private practice, founded the SSM St. Joseph Senior Dental Clinic in St. Charles, and Bob Hermann, the founder of Hermann Companies, and a well-known fundraiser who’s efforts have generated funding for a variety of large-scale projects, including the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the River’s Edge exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo.

These incredible individuals are among a group of 22 older adults that will be recognized at the 10th annual Ageless – Remarkable Saint Louisans gala. St. Louis-based Wells Fargo Advisors will once again serve as Presenting Sponsor for the special event, which will be held Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. The complete list of extraordinary seniors age 75+ who will be recognized at this year’s event includes:

• William Ball

• Carolyn Beimdiek

• C. Robert (Bob) Bess

• Delores Betts-Mars

• Mary Bruemmer

• Dorothy Jane Mahaffey Carpenter Moore

• Alice Creamer

• Bill Creamer

• Herman E. Davis

• Augusta (Gussie) Feehan

• Dr. Norm Freiberger, DDS

• Juanita Hartwig

• Bob and Mary Lee Hermann

• Virginia R. Leitner

• Billie McKindra Phillips

• Sr. Jeanne Marie Meurer

• Sr. Thelma Marie Mitchell

• Leroy Sachs

• Glenn Sheffield

• Walter G. Shifrin

• Senator Betty Sims

As Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans celebrates its 10th anniversary, the event will recognize this outstanding group of seniors who personify the organization’s vision of a society where all older adults are respected, productive, secure and fulfilled, while also celebrating the gala’s work to reshape the face of aging in the St. Louis region and raise critical funds to help underserved seniors in the area over the last 10 years.

With St. Andrew’s currently serving more than 8,000 St. Louis seniors annually, the Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans Gala is the primary fundraising event for St. Andrew’s and its Charitable Foundation. Over the past 10 years, the gala has generated over $1.6 million, which has been used by the organization to enhance the lives of seniors through a wide-range of programs and services, and extend financial aid to residents who have exhausted their resources.

Ageless 2012 – Ladue honorees

Robert and Mary Lee Hermann, 79, are a husband and wife duo that, together, have chaired four of the region’s five major cultural institutions and raised hundreds of millions of dollars for charity. Robert is the founder of St. Louis-based Hermann Companies, Inc., which markets plastic packaging for the food service retail and food processor industries.

As a fundraiser, Bob helped lead a $100 million drive for the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital; a $55 million drive for the River’s Edge exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo; and a $20 million drive to raise funds to help the Missouri Botanical Garden build its Ridgway Center.

He is also the founder of the VP Fair and the originator of the St. Louis Zoo Foundation. His wife, Mary Lee, remains active with St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the Muny, the Missouri History Museum and the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog.

Leroy Sachs, 94, is a retired high school and college math teacher who authored two math textbooks and earned his PhD at age 72. Today, he shares his talents in math as a volunteer with the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging, where he helps seniors prepare their tax returns.

And, as a member of the Citizens Lending Aid to the Insured of Missouri (CLAIM) organization, he helps hundreds of seniors each year navigate the complex world of health insurance and Medicare.

Senator Betty Sims, 76, is a two-term Missouri senator who helped shape public policy in everything from education and insurance reform to housing, healthcare and eldercare.

Through her work to address and improve the health, economic status and well-being of those less fortunate, she is recognized as one of Missouri’s most influential women.

Outside politics, she has served on 28 nonprofit boards during her lifetime and also ran her own company, The Potato Chip Factory. Today, she continues to serve on the boards of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, the Wyman Center, United Way, the Girl Scout Council and others. Over the years, her accomplishments have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Laurie Donovan Award and the Lewis & Clark Statesman of the Year award.