M. Peter Fischer received the St. Louis Award last week, a special laurel conferred annually on one or more local citizens who are seen as having "contributed the most outstanding service for [the] development" of the community or to have brought to it "the greatest honor" during the preceding year.

He accepted the award — given by a committee established in 1931 by the late philanthropist David P. Wohl — on behalf of the Gateway Foundation, which Mr. Fischer chairs. The foundation sponsored, conceived, constructed and endowed Citygarden — the sublime and captivating sculpture park and garden situated on two blocks of the Gateway Mall. The garden's appeal reaches across generations; it seems certain to take its place among the greatest private gifts St. Louis ever has received.

Award recipients customarily offer brief remarks. Mr. Fischer's focused on an extension of Citygarden, a master plan for the Gateway Mall from from the Civil Courts Building to Union Station.

He called for creation of a conservancy with high expectations for "great and brilliant" design, overseen by citizens of "breadth and depth of experience" with "a clear, demonstrated love of and concern for St. Louis." The conservancy must be free of financial and political entanglements that might compromise its mission, he said.

Mr. Fischer then raised the perennial St. Louis question about the naysayers who gather whenever a civic proposal aspires to excellence. He described an experience when, as a younger man, he tagged along with a delegation of VIPs who called on the mayor of Montreal to find out how that city "managed to build their elegant new metro system."

"We just did it," the mayor said.

Mr. Fischer modified the sentiment: Just do it, but do it right.

M. Peter Fischer is well known in private philanthropic circles, but he shuns the spotlight. His public speech was a rare exception — a product of the St. Louis Award having been conferred on his mother, Teresa Fischer, in 1962 for her role in the creation of the Junior College District of St. Louis-St. Louis County.

He rarely does interviews, but on Friday he agreed to share some ideas on how good things can get done in this community.

He referred to something his father, Aaron Fischer, co-founder of the firm now known as Sigma-Aldrich, said: "Bet on the person." Community progress depends much more on people with energy, resources, integrity and savvy than on any particular plan of action.

Such people are most effective only when they expect nothing in return and are willing take positions that serve the greater good but risk the disapproval of their peers.



Mr. Fischer spoke of having paid a visit, years ago, to Edna Gellhorn, matriarch of a prominent St. Louis family and a leader of the women's suffrage movement. Mrs. Gellhorn told him she once asked Eleanor Roosevelt how she accomplished so much.

"I don't want anything from anyone," Mrs. Roosevelt replied.

How do we cultivate a such a climate in this community?

By example, Mr. Fischer said; the surest way to get good people to step forward is for a good person to step forward.

How, then, do good people get things done — and done right?

"Push, push, push."

Ask for nothing in return and make enough of a nuisance of yourself, it seems, and you may end up with something as magnificent as Citygarden.

— Eddie Roth