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North County lost of one of its most influential citizens and advocate for North County with the passing of community leader and builder Lowell Girardier who died Friday, March 26. He was 81. Services were held Tuesday, March 30 at First Christian Church of Florissant with internment at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mr. Girardier started in the construction business in 1955 and was president of Girardier Building & Realty, a company that specializes in custom-built homes, churches, schools, stores and commercial buildings.

Mr. Girardier was widely known as a civic leader in North County, having served on many boards and a member of many civic and charitable groups.

He received the Ambassador’s Award from Rosary High School, where he served on their school board.  He was a director for Marygrove, the Florissant Valley Sheltered Workshop, and the Emerson YMCA.

Mr. Girardier epitomizes community leadership and charitable giving through his long-standing involvement with dozens of North County organizations, including the Florissant Rotary Club, where he has served as a board member, club secretary, and president and is a 13 time Paul Harris Fellow. He also chaired the fund drive for City of Florissant’s 200th Anniversary Celebration. His involvement with children’s organizations in the past include being a board member for Marygrove, were he was named Marygrove’s Person of the Year in 1991, and for the Emerson Family YMCA.

Girardier has also been the president for Florissant Valley Sheltered Workshop (now Valley Industries) and a board member for the past eight years. He co-founded and  served on the SSM DePaul Health Foundation Board, as well as, a board member for the DePaul Community Advisory Board.

He was a member of North County Inc. and was a past-president and membership chairman.  He received the NCI Outstanding Citizen Award and the Elmer Belsha Leadership Award. Mr. Girardier was a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Comments from area  leaders include:

Florissant Mayor Robert Lowery said:  “Lowell was a wonderful friend, was a great civic leader and a tremendous friend to everyone.  He will be truly missed by the people in North County.   My thoughts and prays go out to his family.”

Diane Weidinger, president and CEO of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce:  “Lowell was indeed a gentlemen’s gentlemen.  By that I mean  he was respected for not only his commercial and residential building but in so many cases, building residential for individuals more than one time. Lowell will be missed for his dedication, support and tenacious personality when it came to supporting the organizations that he had believed in.”

Rebecca Zoll, North County Inc. president:

“Lowell was the type of person we should all strive to be.  He was the very definition of a gentleman and when he spoke it was with wisdom and compassion.  He epitomized the perfect example of a businessperson, who believed in giving back to his home town.  He was a mentor and a friend and I, like so many others whose lives he touched with his goodness, will miss him greatly.”

T.R. Carr, former mayor Hazelwood:

“In every thing he did , professionally and privately, his heart and soul was always with North County.”

Mr. Girardier is survived by his wife Beverly J. Girardier and daughter Sue (husband Rick Hampo)., plus stepchildren and grandchildren. He was previously married to Nadine Girardier. They had another daughter, the late Linda Girardier.

Memorials to: DePaul Health Center Foundation, 12303 DePaul Drive, Bridgeton, Mo. 63044 or Marygrove, 2705 Mullanphy  Lane, Florissant, Mo., 63031.

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