Ladue Retiree To Be Honored By St. Andrew's Resources for Seniors System

George Fonyo, 84, is a firm believer in giving back to his community. Retired from the world of manufacturing, Fonyo has carved out a volunteerism niche throughout St. Louis.

Fonyo, who lives in an updated farm house on Litzsinger Road in Ladue, is involved in a variety of local boards and commissions. He is one of two Ladue residents who will be honored by St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System at a gala downtown in November. The program, Ageless-Remarkable St. Louisans has selected its class for 2011. In its ninth year, the program recognizes outstanding seniors for their contributions, and Wells Fargo Advisors is the major sponsor.

The other local honoree is Col. Frank C. Bick, 84, retired publisher of the St. Louis Suburban Journals (his story will be reported next.)

Fonyo grew up on Buckingham Avenue in Clayton, and when he was a kid he lived in Wydown Forrest. Born in Evanston, IL, the family moved to St. Louis when he was 3 years old. He is a 1944 graduate of Clayton High School and serves presently on the Clayton Education Foundation board of directors.

He also serves on the board of the Donald Danforth Plant Life Center, the Murray Weidenbaum Center board at Washington University (his alma mater) and the Saint Louis Zoo Commission—“That is the commission that really runs the zoo,” he said.

He was a member of the Ladue City Council for 16 years (serving during Edy Spink’s years in office as mayor) and retired from a 31-year career as a United States Air Force reserve officer.

“They (The Air Force Academy) don’t have recruiters. The academy was founded in 1960, and therefore, didn’t have any alumni when they started to promote the program. We were simply known as candidate advisors,” he said. He would promote the merits of military service to local students.

Upon graduating Clayton High School at age 17, he joined the Army Air Corp as the war was winding down. Later, in 1961, he earned a degree in economics and political science from Washington University’s college.

Fonyo had a successful career in sales and marketing. His first job out of the military at the end of World War II was with the General Motors plant in North St. Louis. He worked for several manufacturers and started up his own company, MFG Associates, with offices in the Hanley Industrial Court in Brentwood in 1957.

“We had a great bunch of guys. We used to manufacture curtain wall systems,” he said.

In 2004, he retired in order to travel more—to see his daughter Katie in Baltimore and be with his two grandsons, to spend more time with his daughter Marnie who lives in Brentwood and to do volunteer service projects.

“It’s just great to give back to the community.” On Sundays, he volunteers as a junior warden at his church St. Michael & St. George in Clayton.

Keeping in good physical shape is important to this octogenarian. He has a full set of workout equipment in his basement. “I work out 45 minutes a day, six days a week. I give myself Mondays off,” he said with a laugh.