Mr. William Eugene Pfeiffer

William E. (Bill) Pfeiffer Sr. passed away peacefully at his home in Kansas City, MO on August 25, 2016, at the age of 97. Born June 4, 1919 in northeast Kansas City, MO, he was the son of Fred J. Pfeiffer and Jennie Cecelia (Noonan) Pfeiffer, both of Kansas City. He grew up on a 15 acre farm, and he enjoyed the many advantages of a rural upbringing. He graduated from Bennington Elementary School, Raytown High School and Kansas City Junior College. He attended the University of Kansas City. Bill served his country as a sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps, stationed in the European Theater during World War II.

After his military service, Bill joined Commercial Lithographing Company, and was named its General Manager at the young age of 27. He eventually became the owner, President and CEO of the firm, serving in those capacities for decades before becoming Chairman of the Board at Commercial in 1986. In his business, Bill was a builder, a change agent and a highly skilled negotiator. He became a successful salesman coast-to-coast, using his winning personality to attract and close many deals with clients both large and small. He was absolutely a man of his word, and his handshake alone sealed agreements solidly based on mutual trust. Widely respected by his business competitors and allies alike, Bill was able to build, foster and maintain a large workforce. His motto at Commercial was always: “You don’t work for me, we all work together as a team.”

A man of truly extraordinary generosity, organizations benefitting from Bill’s support include the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Junior Chamber of Commerce, The Printing and Advertising Executives Club, the Sertoma Club, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and The Quiet Birdmen. Bill had a strong commitment to community and social justice, contributing to support the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the NAACP, the Mainstream Coalition, the Heartland Men’s Chorus, the Family Conservancy, the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education and the Center for Practical Bioethics. He also loved the arts, supporting the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the Quality Hill Playhouse and the Chestnut Fine Arts Theatre.

Bill’s chief interest was in supporting UMKC. His financial generosity as a patron of the arts and education led him to endow a wide variety of programs at UMKC including the Conservatory of Music and Dance, the Carolyn Benton Cockefair Chair for Continuing Education, the Women’s Council Graduate Assistance Fund and the Starr Symposium. Honoring his many contributions to the University over time, Bill was a co-recipient of the UMKC Chancellor’s Medal in 1991, and he also served for several years as Chair of the Board of the UMKC Friends of the Conservatory. He donated funds and materials to the Miller Nichols Library. Along with his first wife, Corky Pfeiffer, he provided a substantial financial endowment to further the mission of the UMKC Gallery of Art. With his second wife, Mary Kay McPhee, he helped endow a special program for staff enrichment at UMKC.

Bill Pfeiffer was lovingly devoted to his family and his extended family. He made many personal sacrifices to educate his children and his wife, Corky. He was an accomplished pilot and a dedicated world traveler. He loved golf, food, flying, art, music and boating – not necessarily in that order. In 1939 – 1941, he served as Band Leader for the Red Rose Band, an 11 piece swing band with vocalists. He was always witty, a master of the one-liner. He had a twinkle in his eye, a gracious, listening ear and s smile that lit the room and engaged everyone around him. Always special to Bill’s heart were the ten years he spent with the Boy Scouts of America’s Heart of America Council as Scoutmaster of Troop 66. He spent many happy summers at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, where he was inducted into the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

Bill was named “Man of the Year” by the Printing Industries Association of Kansas City and also by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City. In 1984, he received a special citation in recognition of his many years of outstanding leadership in the printing industry. In 2007, Bill was awarded the Kindest Kansas Citian honorary star by Synergy Services, a group devoted to reducing violence and promoting peace and harmony in Kansas City. He was Honorary Co-Chair of Family Achievement Night for the Family Conservancy, The Ribbon of Hope Dinner benefitting HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment, Corks and Canvas for the Good Samaritan Project and Hearts of Gold Awards Luncheon for the YWCA. He was a past Deacon and Elder of Second Presbyterian Church. Bill was a member of The Mission Hills Country Club, Hallbrook Country Club, The Kansas City Club, Loch Lloyd Country Club and of Le Mirador Country Club in Vevey, Switzerland.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Corky Pfeiffer, by his parents, Jennie and Fred J. Pfeiffer, by his three brothers: Carl, John and Tom Pfeiffer, and by his stepdaughter, Martha McPhee. He is survived by his wife, Mary Kay McPhee of the home. He is also survived by his two children: daughter Jan E. Pfeiffer-Rios and her wife, Frances Pfeiffer-Rios of Boston, MA, by his son, William E. (Bill) Pfeiffer, Jr. and stepson, Mark S. McPhee, M.D. both of Kansas City, by five step-grandchildren and many nephews, nieces and friends. The family wishes to give special thanks to Bill’s two devoted caretakers: Ife’ Peterson and Robin Hunt, with whom he developed close personal relationships. They both became a vital part of his later life.

Bill’s burial will be private. The family is planning a Celebration of Life for Bill at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Bill’s memory to the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.