Max Erlich, longtime president of Erlich Cleaners and Laundry Company, who contributed $1 million to the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry, died Saturday, Oct. 18. He was 97 and a longtime resident of University City.

With his late wife, Melba (Drew) Erlich, Mr. Erlich created the Drew and Max Erlich Charitable Foundation, whose $1 million donation funded the purchase and building that houses the Jewish Food Pantry, run by Jewish Family & Children’s Service. The donation made it possible for the Jewish Food Pantry to move in 2012 from its 3,000-square foot space and basement storage area at 10950 Schuetz Road, to the 22,000-square foot space located one mile away at 10601 Baur Road. 

 The JF&CS bought the new location in March 2012, using $1 million in funds from the JF&CS endowment. The Erlich Family Foundation reimbursed the endowment for the $1 million spent on the facility. JF&CS raised an additional $1.3 million to support the food pantry.

Fred Steinbach, current president of the JF&CS board of trustees, was serving a prior term as president when the food pantry moved into its new home. 

“Without the generosity of Max and Drew Erlich, we would not have been able to purchase a separate building to house the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry,” said Steinbach. “Their gift was very timely, because, in the last few years, JF&CS has gone from feeding 2,500 people per month to 8,000 people per month, which we could not have done in the prior facility. Many people who have never met the Erlichs are nutritionally fortified thanks to their generosity.”

JF&CS named the Jewish Food Pantry building the Max and Drew Erlich Center in honor of the Erlichs’ contributions, and they were recognized at the agency’s 11th Annual Tree of Life Society party.

Mr. Erlich was born in St. Louis on May 2, 1917, the son of Ben and Eva Mathes Erlich. His father and uncle purchased Yawitz Cleaners, which opened its doors in 1900, and renamed it Erlich’s. It grew to become one of the biggest dry cleaners in the region. Mr. Erlich left high school at age 16 in 1929, to run the business. Soon after, the business was thriving and by the 1960s, it had expanded to include shoe repair. During the height of its success, Erlich’s had 17 outlets, as well as branches in the Stix, Baer & Fuller, Famous Barr and GEM stores. Mr. Erlich was still running the business into his 90s.

The Erlichs also supported other organizations, which encouraged entrepreneurial skills in young people, and funded the Kosher Kitchen Cafe at the Crown Independent Living Center.

Mr. Erlich was an active volunteer for the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. He co-chaired the Cleaners, Dyers and Launderers Group in the 1956 Jewish Federation Welfare Fund Campaign. His other activities included membership in Congregation Shaare Emeth, the Jewish Community Center Health Club and the parents committee of the Boy Scouts Pack 295 at Blackberry School.

Mr. Erlich was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Melba (Drew) Witte Erlich, and their two sons, Bruce Erlich and John Erlich. 

Funeral services were private.

Contributions preferred to the Jewish Family & Children’s Service, 10950 Schuetz Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63146.