Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tim Nelson

St. Paul business exec, philanthropist John Nasseff dies at 93

Opperman's and Nasseff
From left, Fane Opperman, John Nasseff and Vance Opperman stand together in the former West Publishing office of Fane and Vance's father, Dwight Opperman, in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, May 29, 2015.
Jeffrey Thompson | MPR News 2015

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Legendary St. Paul business executive and philanthropist John Nasseff has died at age 93.

The son of Lebanese immigrants, Nasseff parlayed a ninth grade education into a job as a vice president at what was then West Publishing. He sold off his part of the firm and went onto a career of charity and community service.

"The rags to riches story has a few extra wrinkles," said Vance Opperman, a close family friend and business partner. "John was a mechanical genius, incredibly smart."

The key to unlocking that intelligence was his time spent in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, Opperman said. "That's really where he developed, or had a lot of mechanical ideas that he used later in life."

After climbing the ranks at West Publishing after the war, Nasseff used the money he made to help those in need.

"Graciousness was John Nasseff," Opperman said.

And a lot of his charity work was done right in St. Paul.

"I mean, he was born in St. Paul, lived in St. Paul, always planned to die in St. Paul," he said.