Patrick M. "Del" Bannister

Bannister, Patrick M. “Del”, 61, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, passed away peacefully December 26, 2013 surrounded by his family and friends. Beloved husband of Kathleen (nee Gorla) Bannister, devoted father of Patrick, Michael and Kelly Bannister, dear brother of Thomas and Dr. Robert Bannister, Barbara Galli (Louis) and Kathleen Brady, dear uncle, great uncle, godfather and friend. He was preceded in death by his parents Del L. and Irene Bannister, his sister, Sr. Maureen Bannister, D.C., and his brother Joseph Bannister. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated January 3, 2014 at the St. Louis University High School Si Commons Auditorium. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bannister Family Scholarship at St. Louis University High School, or the Del and Irene Bannister Scholarship at Saint Louis University or the charity of your choice.

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A Memorial Mass to celebrate the life of Mr. Patrick M. “Del” Bannister will be held on Friday, January 3, 2014 at the St. Louis University High School Si Commons Auditorium, 4970 Oakland Ave. Mr. Bannister, a lifelong St. Louisan who spent his career in public service, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2013 with his family and friends by his side.

Mr. Bannister, a graduate of St. Louis University High School (SLUH ’71) and Saint Louis University (SLU ’75; B.A. Urban Affairs), worked his first ten years in public service at the St. Louis Community Development Agency (CDA) and then with the National Development Council, New York, as Director of the St. Louis Office of the NDC . He returned to city service in 1985 where he continued working as Director of Business Development and Deputy Executive Director of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) until his death.

Mr. Bannister was honored in 2008 by the State of Missouri with a Career Service Award at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development. He served on numerous boards and commissions including: the St. Louis Local Development Co. (LDC), St. Louis Industrial Development Authority (IDA), St. Louis University High School Buildings and Grounds Committee, the Executive Committee and Board of the Center for Emerging Technologies (CET), the Clean Energy Development Board (PACE Board), Marian Middle School Facilities Committee.

Mr. Bannister was named in ALIVE Magazine’s Buzz List of most influential people in 2012 for his work on the Technology Entrepreneurship Center, located in the Railway Exchange Building in downtown St. Louis. His mark on the City of St. Louis will be left for years to come through his work in connecting City business with programs which facilitated economic development and job growth. Mr. Bannister worked quietly in the background on major projects such as the Scottrade (Kiel) Center, an upgrade to the historic Anheuser Busch St. Louis Brewery, and the recently announced IKEA coming to the CORTEX district by Pace Properties. He was also instrumental in the retention of numerous major City businesses such as Peabody Energy, Wells Fargo Advisors, P & G and Performance Food Group to name a few.

Mr. Bannister came from a family of public servants. His father, Del L. Bannister served as Collector of Revenue for the City of St. Louis from 1950-62 and his brother, Dr. Robert L. Bannister, served as Alderman of the City’s 12th Ward from 1976-78. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and brother, a good and loyal friend, and a lifelong Cardinal baseball and Billiken basketball fan.

Mr. Bannister is survived by his wife Kathleen Bannister (Gorla), his children Patrick, Michael and Kelly Bannister, his brothers Thomas and Dr. Robert Bannister, and his sisters Barbara Galli (Louis) and Kathleen Brady. He was preceded in death by his parents Del L. and Irene Bannister, his sister, Sr. Maureen Bannister, D.C., and his brother Joseph Bannister. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated 11am on Friday, January 3, 2014 at St. Louis University High School Si Commons Auditorium, 4970 Oakland Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bannister Family Scholarship at St. Louis University High School, or the Del and Irene Bannister Scholarship at Saint Louis University or the charity of your choice.