St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Endows President and CEO Position in Honor of Jack and Mary Jane Bodine
By Eric Dundon
A generous legacy gift by Jack and Mary Jane Bodine has endowed the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s President and CEO position. The chair is held by Marie-Hélène Bernard, who has led the SLSO since 2015, and has been renamed in honor of the Bodines.
The Jack and Mary Jane Bodine President and CEO Chair recognizes more than 35 years of support of the orchestra by the couple. Their connection to the SLSO began as concertgoers in the 1980s. They later contributed both as a couple and through the Jack and Mary Jane Bodine Charitable Trust, including gifts to the orchestra’s endowment.
“Establishing this chair in their name is our way of thanking them for their decades of steadfast support,” said Nancy Galvin, Chair of the SLSO Board of Trustees. “Their generosity leaves a remarkable legacy that keeps St. Louis thriving for generations to come.”
Endowment funds, managed by the St. Louis Symphony Trust, provide ongoing operating support for the orchestra. The Bodines believed a strong symphony orchestra contributed to the vitality of the St. Louis region.
Bernard said she was honored to hold the chair, which she described as a tribute to the couple’s deep engagement with the SLSO, philanthropy, and “shared entrepreneurial spirit.”
The couple’s giving reflected a shared commitment to strengthening their community. Jack Bodine was co-owner of Bodine Aluminum, Inc., a St. Louis-based manufacturer of aluminum castings. He died in August 2024 at 97; Mary Jane Bodine died in December 2025 at 95.
John Gury, Mary Jane Bodine’s son and Jack Bodine’s stepson, said the endowment will keep their legacy connected to an organization they “cherished dearly and supported enthusiastically.” He also noted that their decades of giving helped make possible the recent transformation of the SLSO’s home, now known as the Jack C. Taylor Music Center.
During Bernard’s tenure, the SLSO has appointed and extended the contract of Music Director Stéphane Denève, completed two European tours, and expanded community partnerships and music education programs. She also guided the $140 million renovation and expansion of Powell Hall. A campaign supporting the project and the orchestra’s endowment exceeded its goal by $20 million.
The SLSO, now in its 147th year, is the nation’s second-oldest orchestra. It partners with more than 150 community organizations and presents performances and education programs across the region.
Eric Dundon is the SLSO’s Public Relations Director.
