Normay W. Drey Jr., a real estate lawyer, and immediate past president of Temple Emanuel, who helped strengthen the Grace Hill Settlement House, a social service organization, died Thursday, June 19, 2008 at his home in Ladue.

He was 63, and had undergone recent surgery.

Before he joined the Grace Hill Settlement House Board of Directors in 1999, the social service provider had lost much of its financial and volunteer base, according to former Grace Hill President and CEO Theresa Mayberry, who was quoted in the St. Louis Post-Disptach.

“It was a 99-year-old organization that did wonderful things, but had lost its luster a little bit,” said Mayberry to the P-D. “With his dedication and charm, Norman helped ensure that Grace Hill would be around for another 100 years to deliver services to the people who need them.”

Mr. Drey was a native of Cincinnati. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and received his doctor of law degree in 1970 from the Washington University School of Law. Mr. Drey was a longtime corporate attorney and assistant vice president with Edison Brothers Stores. Since 1999, he was of counsel with Stone Leyton and Gershman.

Mr. Drey was an avid chef and served as a cooking instructor at the Kitchen Conservatory over the past ten years.

Mr. Drey served on the boards of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Focus St. Louis, Friends of the Missouri Historical Society and the Downtown Marquette YMCA. He was the immediate past president of Temple Emanuel.

A memorial service was held last Sunday at Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Road.

Among the survivors are his wife, Barbara Blair Drey; a son, Norman W. “Sam” Drey III of Ladue; a sister, Jane Drey Landsbaum of St. Louis, and a brother, James M. Drey of Akron, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Life Skills Foundation, 10176 Corporate Square Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63132, or to Grace Hill, 2500 Hadley Street, St. Louis, Mo. 63106.