Obituary: Donald Lasater, former trustee, 90

Donald Lasater portrait
Lasater

Donald E. Lasater, a former member of the Washington University in St. Louis Board of Trustees, died of natural causes Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. He was 90.

Lasater served on the board from 1973-1997 and as an emeritus trustee from 1997-2010. He had served on six committees during his tenure, most recently the Medical Finance Committee. He also was a former member of the School of Medicine National Council.

He began working for Mercantile Trust Co.’s trust department in 1959. He rose to chairman and CEO of the company in 1970. He retired from Mercantile, then known as Mercantile Bancorporation, in 1989.

He served on various corporate boards over the years, including General American Life Insurance Co., Illinois Power Co. and as a director of Barnes Hospital for 25 years. He was a dedicated volunteer for many community organizations, among them the Boy Scouts of Greater St. Louis, the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis (the Muny), and the Old Newsboys.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Church of the Annunziata, 9305 Clayton Road in St. Louis, with a reception following at The Bogey Club, 9266 Clayton Road. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Survivors include five children: Kevin, Timothy (MBA ’83), Thomas, Laura, and John (JD ’91) Lasater, all of St. Louis; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary E. Lasater.

Read his obituary on Legacy.com.