After a long illness, Michael F. Neidorf passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022 surrounded by his family and friends. There is a private family service. At a later date to be announced, there will be a memorial service for family and friends to celebrate his extraordinary life and legacy.
Michael’s love and devotion to his family knew no bounds. He was a beloved husband to Noémi Neidorff, father to Peter Neidorff and the late Monica Neidorff, and brother to Susan Neidorff Reinglass and Robert Neidorff.
Michael was the visionary leader of Centene Corporation for more than 25 years. He built a remarkable American business track record and his commitment to providing affordable, quality healthcare to the most vulnerable transformed lives around the world.
Michael Neidorff joined Centene in 1996 as CEO, leading the company on its remarkable journey from a $40 million individual health plan to a $125 billion multinational healthcare company with 25 million members. Centene is ranked #24 on the Fortune 500, #57 on the Fortune 500 Global list, and #7 on the 2019 Fortune Change the World list. Centene has grown to nearly 76,000 employees serving all 50 states and 3 international countries.
Michael made diversity and inclusion a core focus of his leadership and built an international company where women, people of color, LGBTQ, veterans and people with disabilities all have opportunities to lead and outperform. Thanks to his strong commitment, Fortune ranked Centene #2 nationally for diversity and inclusion. In 2017, Michael was named Citizen of the Year by the St. Louis Post Dispatch for driving a $30 million investment in Ferguson, Missouri, in the weeks following the summer 2014 race riots and bringing much-needed opportunity and hope to the region had brought small businesses to the community.
Michael Neidoff was one of the country’s most philanthropic figures. His philanthropy and personal generosity transformed the charitable landscape across the state of Missouri and across the country. His continued support of hundreds of charitable organizations has been widely celebrated.
He dedicated himself to supporting arts and civic organizations. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Urban League and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis. For more than 30 years he served on the board of directors of the Greater St. Louis Boy Scouts of America and on the board of directors of Concordance Academy.
Michael served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas, and in 2021 Trinity University named its business school the Michael Neidorff School of Business in his honor.
Because of his love of the arts, Michael has served on the board of directors of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, as a trustee of the Opera Theater of St. Louis, and as treasurer of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees.
Michael grew up in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Trinity University and St. Francis College with a Master of Arts degree.
Memorial donations on his behalf can be sent to the Siteman Cancer Center, the Opera Theater of Saint Louis, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, or a charity of your choice.