Washington, DC – Members of the Hungarian American Coalition (Coalition) were deeply saddened to learn that Michael Neidorff, CEO of Centene Corporation and long-time supporter of the Coalition, passed away on April 7, 2022, after a lengthy illness. He was 79 years old.
Michael Neidorff at the Coalition’s Annual Gala Dinner
at the Cosmos Club, Washington, DC on May 4, 2007
Mr. Neidorff was President and CEO of Centene Corporation, a government services managed care company based in St. Louis, MO, since 1996. He remained its visionary leader for more than 25 years and was elected its Chairman of the Board in May 2004. Neidorff led the company in its remarkable trajectory from a $40 million single health plan to a multinational $125 billion health care enterprise serving 25 million members.
In 2003, it was former US Ambassador to Hungary George Herbert Walker III who introduced the Coalition to his close friends, Michael and Noemi Neidorff. They became strong supporters for many years.
His wife, Noémi Neidorff, is of Hungarian origin and is an active supporter of higher education initiatives, including the Hungarian-Missouri Educational Partnership, a former Coalition member organization that eventually merged into Saint Louis University’s HMEP-SLU Graduate Business Scholarship Program. The mission of HMEP was to provide scholarships for Hungarian students to attend graduate business school at a participating university in St. Louis, MO and to intern with U.S. companies after completing their studies.
“I have a wonderful relationship with the Coalition and appreciate the work they do. I also have great affection for Hungary and Central Europe, and it starts with their best export, my wife Noémi, and the people of Hungary who have suffered so much oppression and are still resilient.” – Michael Neidorff
Michael Neidorff supported and served on many Boards of arts and civic organizations, among them: National Urban League, Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis, Greater St. Louis Boy Scouts of America, St Louis Symphony Orchestra and others. As a major donor to his alma mater, Trinity University, in San Antonio, Texas, and its business school, the Michael Neidorff School of Business, is named in his honor.
He was a great friend and generous supporter of the Coalition and he will be greatly missed.