Jerrold H. (Jerry) Pass, former owner of the St. Louis-based Pass Pets chain of pet stores, and an active member of both the Jewish and general communities, died of complications from cancer Saturday, July 21, 2007, at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. He was 67 and a resident of Clayton at the time of his passing.

At one time, Pass Pets had 42 pet stores in six states. Mr. Pass is credited with having shaped the pet store image locally and nationally, working to change the image of the “dirty pet store.” Mr. Pass insisted that his stores be tidy and freshly remodeled, and that only the healthiest animals be sold to his customers.

Mr. Pass’s chain bought puppies only from breeders licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and in 1989 was the only one in the nation to be licensed by that federal department.

Within 20 years, Mr. Pass built a chain of 42 stores from one store he began in Northwest Plaza in 1969. He expanded to six states — Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan — and had seven stores in the St. Louis area. At its peak, Pass Pets’ annual sales topped more than $25 million.

Mr. Pass served as president of the Pets Industry Joint Advisory Council in Washington.

Mr. Pass sold the company in 1988, but continued to work for the stores for another 10 years. Some locations still operate under the Pass Pets name.

Mr. Pass was born in St. Louis on March 7, 1940. He graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Oklahoma in Norman. He came back to St. Louis to work for his father’s business, Sea Pass, a seafood distributor.

Mr. Pass was a former board member of the Wellness Community. When he was 61, he walked seven hours in the Vancouver Marathon to raise more than $20,000 for the organization.

Mr. Pass was long active with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and its annual Campaign, and was a past member of the Jewish Federation Board of Directors. He was also a former board member of Temple Israel and of the Jewish Community Center.

Paul Gallant, a fellow volunteer for the Jewish Federation and its Campaign, recalled, “You could always count on Jerry Pass to come through in support of the Federation and good causes in our community. He set a fine example in the community for leadership and commitment.”

As a board member of the Missouri Baptist Medical Center Foundation, Mr. Pass co-chaired the “Home is Where the Heart Is” event that helped build the chest pain center at the hospital.

A funeral service was held Monday, July 23, at Temple Israel. Burial followed at the Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery, 9125 Ladue Road.

Among the survivors are his wife, Jeanne Pass of Clayton; three daughters, Cindy (Shep) Hyken of Creve Coeur, Carole (Reid) Garson of Cleveland and Cathie (Jon) Kessler of Orlando, Fla.; a sister, Sharyn (Ron) Kessler of Chesterfield; a brother Jeffrey (Judy) Pass of Creve Coeur and eight great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63146; or The Cancer Center at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, 2015 North Ballas Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63131.