Adam Aronson, a founder and for many years chairman of Mark Twain Bancshares and one of the founders of the Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis County, and longtime civic and organizational leader, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, of complications from prostate cancer at his home in St. Louis. He was 89.

Mr. Aronson, whose many civic and organizational activities included being a former member of the St. Louis Jewish Light Board of Trustees, was praised in an editorial in last week’s edition of the St. Louis Business Journal, headlined, “Lessons of Adam Aronson.” The editorial praised Mr. Aronson as having been “St. Louis’ best talent scout.” He hired well and gave his young acolytes responsibility and opportunity early in their careers. The editorial also noted, “the generation of bankers he hired has aged gracefully and leads many banks in the region.”

In l963, Mr. Aronson led a group of investors who founded Mark Twain Bancshares. Through a series of mergers and branch expansions, the bank became one of the area’s leading financial institutions, specializing in real estate and banking for family-owned businesses.

Mr. Aronson served as chairman of the bank until he retired in l986. Mark Twain became part of Mercantile Bank in l997 and is now part of U.S. Bank.

Mr. Aronson was a pioneer in putting banks in the suburbs when most banks remained located in downtown urban areas. As noted in both the St. Louis Business Journal and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he was best known for recruiting the “best and brightest” graduates of leading business schools, creating a highly respected work force at his banks.

John Dubinsky, former president of Mark Twain Bancshares,” told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “There are just dozens and dozens of people in St. Louis who are running organizations whose first job was at Mark Twain. I think he took tremendous pride in seeing the success of all the people he mentored.”

Widely known as a passionate advocate for arts and culture in St. Louis, Mr. Aronson founded Laumeier Sculpture Park with St. Louis County Parks director Wayne Kennedy and sculptor Ernest Trova in l975, during the administration of then St. Louis County Supervisor Lawrence K. Roos. Mr. Aronson was the park’s first chairman in l977 and remained active with Laumeier until his death.

Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Mr. Aronson’s longtime friend, told the Post-Dispatch, “He was the driving force, the vision, the person who made it happen. It was really Adam who saw the need for Ernie Trova’s work to have a place where it could be seen. Without him, it never would have happened.”

Mr. Aronson served on the boards of many organizations, including the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis, the St. Louis Art Museum Contemporary Art Society, the Saint Louis Symphony, the Mid-America Arts Council and the Sheldon Art Museum. He was active also in a number of Jewish organizations.

Mr. Aronson received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from St. Louis University and an honorary doctorate of arts and letters from the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

The Arts and Education Council awarded Mr. Aronson and his wife, Judith Aronson, the Lifetime Achievements in the Arts Award in 1988.

Mr. Aronson was born in New York. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Renaissance literature from Columbia University in New York. He came to St. Louis in l939.

A memorial service for Mr. Aronson was held last week at the Sheldon Art Museum, 3648 Washington Ave.

In addition to his wife, among the survivors are three sons, Jonathan Aronson of Los Angeles, Josh Aronson of New York City and James Aronson of Montpelier, France, and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Laumeier Sculpture Park, Mark Twain Endowment, l2580 Rott Rd., St. Louis, Mo. 63l27.