John H. Ferring IV moved through St. Louis in a way that made it easy to overlook just how much he helped build. With his familiar uniform of polo shirts and khaki pants, he blended into rooms — even rooms in buildings that bore his name. That was intentional. He preferred to be known simply as John, and he preferred the work to speak louder than he did.
“The thing that is really wonderful about St. Louis is that way before we could give any money, we could get involved … I got on a board when I was 31. I didn’t have money, but I could work on their finance committee — and I felt great about that.”
John Ferring in 2023
Ferring died Monday, March 2, from an undisclosed ailment. He was 73.
“John believed profoundly in what St. Louis could become, particularly as a cultural destination of national and international significance,” said Donald M. Suggs, publisher of The St. Louis American. “He will be deeply missed, but the work he and (his wife) Alison devoted themselves to — expanding opportunity across every ZIP code and strengthening the arts and culture ecosystem we all share — will resonate for generations.”
His humility was consistent, not an affectation. He insisted people call him by his first name. “Mr. Ferring was my father,” he told a reporter in 2023. It was a small window into his leadership style — grounded, collaborative and never performative.
Ferring was the former executive chairman and founder of PLZ Corp. He began his career in the aerosol industry in 1978 when he purchased Plaze Inc. from his father, John Ferring III. Over more than 50 years, he built deep relationships across the industry and helped shape its national footprint.
But his civic and cultural leadership — steady, strategic and often behind the scenes — left the deepest imprint on St. Louis.
He joined the board of Arch Grants in 2017, supporting its mission to drive economic development through entrepreneurship. His belief in the power of ideas and the people behind them was unwavering. That commitment later extended to the Donald M. Suggs Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards, a $100,000 annual investment for five years that the Ferring Foundation established in 2021 to support founders committed to building in St. Louis.
“What is unique about John and Alison is that they have this desire to see dreamers actually fulfill their vision for uplifting communities,” said Urban Sprouts Child Development Center founder and Executive Director Ellicia Lanier. She said the Ferrings carried a wealth of knowledge shaped by the lives they lived, the businesses they ran and the campaigns they spearheaded.
His leadership in the arts was equally expansive. He served on the board of trustees for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, including a term as board president from 2004 to 2007. He chaired CAM’s first endowment campaign and later co-chaired the second with Alison Ferring from 2015 to 2021.
“John’s impact and presence are woven into the very walls of CAM,” said Executive Director Lisa Melandri. “Alison and John have been the people who make things happen: they have made CAM vibrant, alive and flourish. I feel that our Museum is truly, in part, their legacy.”
He became a board member of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation in 2014, helping steward improvements through the CityArchRiver project. He also served on the executive board committee for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis from 2012 to 2021.
“For more than three decades, John Ferring shaped Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as a supporter, and for more than 20 years as a board member,” said General Director Andrew Jorgensen. “He asked tough questions, spoke honestly and was deeply moved by art that mattered. His influence was profound, and it will endure.”
From 2013 to 2020, he served on the board of Jazz St. Louis, chairing the capital campaign for what became the Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz — home of The Ferring Jazz Bistro.
“John’s generosity, vision and leadership strengthened countless organizations across our region, and Jazz St. Louis is profoundly grateful to have been among them,” said Robert Steward, chair of the board of directors.
His leadership extended to Forest Park Forever, where he chaired the “Forever” campaign from 2009 to 2018, helping raise more than $140 million for improvements.
“Alison and John are visionary leaders and huge supporters of so many great organizations in St. Louis,” said Lesley Hoffarth, president and executive director of Forest Park Forever. “And they love having the ability to bring that to the people of St. Louis.”
Ferring also served on the board of commissioners for the Saint Louis Art Museum from 2010 to 2017, on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation board from 2005 to 2012, and as founding chairman of the board for the City Museum from 1997 to 2002.
Together, John and Alison became known for philanthropy that was both generous and strategic. They established the Ferring Family Chair for Pediatric Cancers and Related Disorders at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 2009, supporting research in sickle cell anemia. They created the Ferring Annual Award for Philanthropy at COCA in 2010 and the Ferring Family Foundation Endowed Executive Director Chair at CAM in 2018.
“John Ferring was a dear and longtime friend of COCA,” said Indigo Sams, president and CEO of COCA, adding that “John and Alison shared their friendship, generosity and belief in the power of the arts” for more than four decades.
In 2020, the couple was honored at CAM’s annual gala. “They put their energy, they put their passion and they put a sense of duty behind what they do,” said Sue McCollum in a video produced for the event. “When it comes to the Ferrings, they will always be part of the answers and never part of the problem,” added former TV news anchor Christine Buck.
Their contributions earned numerous honors, including the Heart of Gold Award from St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Arts & Education Council’s Excellence in Philanthropy Award in 2009. Forest Park Forever recognized them with the Kathryn Nelson Keeper of Forest Park Award in 2017, and the Missouri Arts Council honored them with the Missouri Arts Award for philanthropy in 2019.
In 2023, The St. Louis American Foundation presented the couple with an Excellence in Community Impact Award at the 21st Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards luncheon. In that moment, Ferring reflected on how St. Louis embraced him long before he had the means to give financially.
“The thing that is really wonderful about St. Louis is that way before we could give any money, we could get involved,” he said. “I got on a board when I was 31. I didn’t have money, but I could work on their finance committee — and I felt great about that.”
That belief shaped how he and Alison approached philanthropy: with time, effort and a genuine desire to strengthen the institutions that make St. Louis a place where creativity and community can thrive.
“St. Louis is still the same way,” he said. “If you show an interest and you are willing to work — even if you don’t have any money — the boards will want you.”
Ferring is survived by Alison and their three sons, Nick, Will and Brooks.
Not only have we lost our dear friend but our city has lost a great leader and humanitarian.
John and Alison have made transformative changes to St. Louis, both with their philanthropic investments and their time and commitments to make a difference in this imperfect, but loved, community. John will be sorely missed. Our condolences to Alison and their children. John was unforgettable.
St. Louis lost a gentle giant. In addition to his and Alison’s deep generosity, what was so special was the way he cared about and invested in leaders. He stood by your side and went to bat for you. There are countless organizations that have blossomed because of John. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to be in his orbit for so many years.
My childhood friend, and fellow swimmer. He lived a life of contribution. Best wishes to his family
I am so sad to hear of John’s passing. He was kind, generous and thoughtful. He motivated me personally by setting goals and sharing a vision for impacting poverty. He was a beacon of goodness and so is Alison. My heartfelt condolences to Alison, his children and all who loved him.
What an amazing man John was. He will be greatly missed, both for his brilliant vision of St. Louis’ potential, as well as his kind and generous spirit. His smile lit up every room, because it was genuine- he wanted to see everyone around him thrive. Sending my deepest condolences to Alison and their family.
John was a great contributor to St. Louis in countless ways. He has been a role model for many by supporting the arts. kind, caring, committed to make our community better. A real partner with Alison and overall gentleman. He was also an excellent golfer! Certainly a loss and way too soon.
Alison and John are passionate about many things and art and early childhood education are high on their radar. John’s caring, engagement and values defined his stature to many institutions in St Louis. He was always at the forefront of a number of art/civic initiatives. My sincere condolences go out to Alison and their loved ones during this difficult time.
The St. Louis community has lost a wonderful leader. Many organizations have benefited from his commitment to excellence and his passion. He will be missed. My sincere condolences to Alison and his children.
It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of John’s passing when I opened an email this morning from Jazz St. Louis. St. Louis has last a person who genuinely understood what our city needs and gave his heart and soul , along with Alison, in so many ways. As an Arts advocate I worked with John and Alison in furthering the Arts missions of The New City School, COCA, Jazz St. Louis and Metro Theater Company and many more.May his light continue to shine in Alison, Nick, Will and Brooks.
John will always be remembered as a consummate and dedicated supporter/philanthropist for StL and the entire region. John, Alison and their 3 boys always stepped up for StL. Prior to John’s professional career, John was a stellar multi-sport athlete. John’s high school career is full of accolades and state championships. John is remembered fondly by his CDS classmates as a leader, a role model and a treasured friend.
What a loss for so many, for our community, for leadership. John and Alison have made all of us, and St Louis, better. What a legacy.
John’s legacy is solid and ever lasting. Physical manifestations of his largess abound. His spirit to make a difference lives on. St. Louis is fortunate he was our son. Godspeed.
John’s passion for making St. Louis a better place is a lasting legacy to a life that ended far too soon.
I was very saddened to hear of Johnny’s passing. Besides his philanthropic endeavors, he was also a great athlete. At Country Day he played quarterback. Later he was both tennis partners with Sally Irwin and a great golfer at St. Louis Country Club. Johnny’s parents often vacationed with my parents. Johnny was not only a great person, but also a loving husband and father, and an outstanding business person. He will long be remembered as a champion for the St. Louis community.
A loss for St. Louis and I will miss his friendship. John loved this town and worked daily to keep our traditions strong. We will all miss John’s gentle nature and his great sense of humor.
John and Alison have been so influential and generous to just about every arts and culture organization in St. Louis, helping make it an amazing place to live, work, and participate in the arts. I am deeply grateful for their unwavering support, especially for COCA. John will be missed by many.
I have known John since the early-mid 1960s when he was a talented multi-sport athlete. We played high school football together, later he worked at one our companies during a college summer and then we shared Friday night Symphony tickets for a number of years. John and Alison did some much for our community in many many ways. He will be terribly missed.