Aaron Fadem, who worked as an advertising executive for 55 years, died Thursday, Nov. 24 at #2 McKnight Place Hospice Care with his family at his side. He was 85. 

Mr. Fadem was born in St. Louis on July 11, 1926 to the late Rose and Michael Fadem. He graduated from Soldan High School, after which he became “a proud member of the United States Marine Corps,” according to his family. In the Marines, Mr. Fadem visited several Pacific islands during World War II, and made lifelong friends, including one who introduced him to his first wife, the late Lory Fadem. After the war, Mr. Fadem went to Washington University, where he earned a degree in business administration in 1950.

Mr. Fadem began his long career in advertising at Commercial Letter, Inc., creating advertisements and working with customers as a direct mail associate. He worked at the firm for 55 years and became vice president emeritus. Mr. Fadem became president and a founding member of the Direct Marketing Association.

Commercial Letter gave him a “retirement” party after 50 years with the firm, but nobody expected him to stop working. He was told his office at Commercial Letter would always belong to him and to this day, it remains just as he left it. The company also started an Aaron Award, now given annually to those who go above and beyond.

His clients included the Muny, St. Louis Symphony, St. Louis Zoo, Washington University, Stix Baer & Fuller/Dillard’s, Pulaski Bank and Elleard B. Heffren. Many of his clients count among his lifelong friends, the family noted. Mr. Fadem was a longtime advocate for the U.S. Postal Service and he was invited to speak in Washington, D.C. at a national Post Office convention.

His grand-niece, Amanda Packman, noted Mr. Fadem’s resemblance to the famous screen idol Clark Gable. She added that Mr. Fadem brought a photograph of Gable to his Dogtown barbershop, and “they put the picture on the mirror as they cut his moustache so that it would look the same,” she said.

Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline Fadem of St. Louis; a daughter, Diane Packman (Michael) and a son, Bryan Fadem, both of St. Louis; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Rod Fadem (Susan).

Funeral services followed by burial were held Sunday at the New Mount Sinai Cemetery.

Donations marked in memory of Aaron J. Fadem may be made to BJC Patient Fund Volunteers, 8300 Eager Road, Suite 500A, St. Louis, Mo. 63144; or Washington University Memorial Contribution, c/o David Blasingame, Campus Box 1101, #1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63130, or a charity of the donor’s choice.