John Dorsey Wolf

1944 - 2016

BORN

1944

DIED

2016

John Wolf Obituary

Wolf, John Dorsey 72, died suddenly Dec. 21, 2016, of cardiac arrest in Pacific Grove, CA, while traveling with his wife, Carol Cina Wolf. Following retirement from his career as an engineer and aircraft company executive, they had been living in Bellevue, WA, and Nipomo, CA. John was born April 23, 1944, in Norman, OK, grew up in Kirkwood, MO, and graduated in 1962 from Kirkwood High School. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology) and served as Number 1 (president) of Kappa Alpha fraternity there. The university later awarded him an honorary doctorate. He and Carol (who also graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1962) were married for nearly fifty years. Their wedding was at the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, where they were members and where John served on many boards. They lived until 1989 in St. Louis County with their sons, Steve and Scott. While still in college, John began work as an electrical engineer, eventually becoming an executive vice president at McDonnell Douglas Corporation in St. Louis. He moved to southern California to oversee commercial airline production at Douglas Aircraft Company. He later became chief operating officer of Teledesic Corporation, a startup telecommunications firm in Seattle, and Fairchild Dornier Corporation, where he managed production of its commercial aircraft in Germany. He then oversaw Adam Aircraft in Denver as chairman and CEO. John was preceded in death by his parents, William E. Wolf and Florence Dorsey Wolf, and his brother, William D. Wolf. In addition to his wife, survivors include his sons Steve of Kirkwood and Scott (Chelsea Maki) of Denver; his sister, Margaret Wolf Freivogel (William) of Kirkwood; numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins. Services: A celebration of his life is planned for spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH.org) or Faith in Practice (faithinpractice.org.)

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Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Jan. 8, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for John Wolf

10 Entries

December 20, 2017

I am truly sorry for your loss. In this difficult time, may you find peace in the god of all comfort.

December 20, 2017

So sorry for your loss. I just wanted to share an encouraging promise from our Creator. Isaiah 35:10 says; " Exultation & rejoicing will be theirs, And grief & sighing will flee away. " Hopefully soon. Sincerely,

January 15, 2017

We are so blessed to have had John in our lives. We will greatly miss his wonderful sense of humor, his brilliant mind, thoughtfulness and caring spirit. We send our love and prayers to Carol and the entire family.

Margie and Dean Swift, Denver, CO

Dale Jensen

January 14, 2017

John I will miss you the rest of my life. You were a wonderful friend that I greatly admired. Always enjoyed our times on the Tennis courts, the dinners, and your and Carol's hospitality at your homes. You had a wonderful and very successful work career and were a fine executive for McDonnell Douglas. 20 years ago this month you left MDC to take a position at Teledesic in Seattle. I will miss you and Carol at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament in 2017. Until we meet in Heaven, God Bless You. Dale Jensen

William Sweeney

January 12, 2017

John,
Was truly a great human being.Adventurous,intelligent, athletic,fun and very generous of spirit.We loved him and will miss him dearly.

Bill & Chris Sweeney

Greg Robel

January 12, 2017

I extend my deepest condolences to John's wife, Carol, and to all of his family and friends. May God Bless You All, and May God Bless John!

Dennis Perzynski

January 10, 2017

We shared workouts, lunch and talk about baseball and business at the Sammamish Club in Issaquah, WA. One CLASS ACT. I will miss him.

Susie Martin

January 9, 2017

My prayers are lifted up for John and his family. A kind soul.

James (Mouse) Brady

January 9, 2017

What a wonderful and gifted man John was. From high school to his final day he was truly down to earth in everything he did. Always had a kind word at all the KHS62 reunions for all the classmates and there families. Great athlete and great person . Will miss him.

Margaret Freivogel

January 8, 2017

I don't know anyone who had more zest for life than John. As his sister, I was lucky to share this life with him. Here's an obit that includes a bit more about him:

JOHN DORSEY WOLF

John D. Wolf was an engineer turned aircraft executive, including as an executive vice president at McDonnell Douglas Corporation in St. Louis. His life led unexpectedly to positions around the country and the world and finally to an energetic retirement in Seattle.

He was traveling with his wife, Carol Cina Wolf, when he collapsed after an idyllic evening at a favorite hotel and restaurant in Pacific Grove, CA. He died Dec. 21 of cardiac arrest at age 72.

Mr. Wolf approached each day with enthusiasm especially so after he survived a 35-foot fall in the Grand Canyon in 2007. While hiking, he slipped on wet grass and sailed backwards off a cliff. Facing skyward as he plummeted, Mr. Wolf thought it was the end. Instead, he landed in a pool of water only slightly larger than himself and about two feet deep. The only damage was to the contents of his fanny pack.

This dramatic incident was indicative of a life filled with surprising turns. John Dorsey Wolf was born April 23, 1944, in Norman, OK, where his father was stationed as a Navy navigation instructor. His mother said Mr. Wolf arrived prematurely and remained in a hurry for the rest of his life.

Mr. Wolf graduated in 1962 from Kirkwood High School, where he was a scholar athlete playing football, basketball and baseball. In his senior year, the basketball team placed second in the state tournament using an unconventional strategy that rotated use of ten players, exhausting the opposition with a continuous full-court press. Mr. Wolf learned then that smart strategy could prevail over disadvantages.

Mr. Wolf began working for McDonnell while studying electrical engineering in a cooperative program at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla (now Missouri University of Science and Technology.) He served as Number 1 (president) of Kappa Alpha fraternity there. He graduated in 1967, received a master's degree in 1968 and later served on the university's board. In 2000, the university awarded him an honorary doctorate degree. He also served on the board of the Electronics Industry Association.

While in college, Mr. Wolf reconnected with Carol Cina, a high school classmate. They were married in February 1967 at the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, where John served on many boards. They lived until 1989 in St. Louis County with their sons Steve and Scott Wolf.

After working on various missile and space projects, Mr. Wolf rose to leadership positions in McDonnell's astronautics and electronics companies. He studied Japanese management strategies to streamline production. He became executive vice president of McDonnell Aircraft Company and later of Douglas Aircraft Company, where he was responsible for production of commercial aircraft, including the MD-95. In 1989, he moved to southern California to transform Douglas' aircraft production using the strategies he had learned in Japan.

Mr. Wolf retired from McDonnell Douglas after 33 years and became chief operating officer of Teledesic Corporation, a startup telecommunications firm in Seattle. He was in the midst of building a house there when he was recruited to be COO of Fairchild Dornier Corporation. In 1998, he moved to Munich Germany to manage production of its commercial aircraft. He later oversaw Adam Aircraft Corporation in Denver as chairman and CEO.

In 2002, Mr. Wolf retired to Seattle, where he pursued hiking, tennis and management consulting for charities with as much vigor as he had brought to his work. In recent years, Mr. Wolf continued to explore nature and the deeper nature of life and reality. This disciplined study led him to the conclusion that his life was part of a larger multi-dimensional existence that extended through time and space.

Mr. Wolf was preceded in death by his parents, William E. and Florence Dorsey Wolf, and his brother, William D. Wolf. In addition to his wife, Mr. Wolf is survived by his sons, Steve of Kirkwood and Scott (Chelsea Maki) of Denver; his sister, Margaret Wolf Freivogel (William) of Kirkwood; and by numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring and his ashes will be interred at the Webster Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH.org) or Faith in Practice (faithinpractice.org.)