Todd Epsten, former president of the St. Louis City Board of Police Commissioners and chairman of the Major Brands liquor distributorship, died of brain cancer, Saturday, May 26, at his Central West End home. He was 52.

Active in both the general and Jewish communities of St. Louis, Mr. Epsten, who grew up in Kansas City and moved here in 1988,  was also a former chairman of Forest Park Forever, and served on the boards of the St. Louis Art Museum, the St. Louis Science Center and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.  He also served on the board of Central Reform Congregation.

“Jewish Federation joins the entire St. Louis community in mourning Todd Epsten, a person of enormous vision, integrity, compassion and achievement. He demonstrated a deep commitment to the future of the Jewish people and the strength of the St. Louis Jewish community,” said JFed President and CEO Barry Rosenberg. “Through his leadership and wisdom he helped shape the direction of Federation. His and Sue’s philanthropy made an enormous difference in meeting the needs of our community.”

Mr. Epsten also served on the St. Louis Airport Commission and the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation, and was vice chairman of the Regional Business Council, he was aksichairman emeritus of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. He resigned from the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners two years ago during a dispute between the city and state governments over the control of the board.

Mayor Francis Slay, in a statement, praised Mr. Epsten for bringing “the best virtues of business leadership to the community’s challenges.  He was informed, engaged and decisive.  We will miss him.”

Mr. Epsten was a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C.

He was a third generation leader of Major Brands, which was founded by his grandfather in St. Joseph, Mo. in 1934. The company now employs more than 700, and has offices throughout Missouri. He moved to St. Louis in 1988 to take charge of the firm’s expansion into eastern Missouri.

A funeral service was held Monday at Central Reform Congregation.

Survivors include his wife, Susan McCollum; two sons, Michael and Brian; his parents, Jacqueline and Robert Epsten of Kansas City; three sisters, Jane Girson and Jill Epsten, both of Kansas City, and Judith McLaughlin of St. Louis; and a brother, Brad Epsten of Kansas City.