Deborah M. (Debby) Storch, longtime co-owner of a clothing store in University City, and a supporter of civic, health care, synagogue and music causes, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2006 after a two-year struggle with leukemia. She was 59 and a resident of University City, where she had been a lifelong resident. Mrs. Storch was a business partner with her two sisters, Phyllis Markus and Roberta Gutwein, of Clothes Quarters, a women’s off-price boutique founded in l967 by their mother, the late Hattie Poore. When Mrs. Poore died in l986, the three sisters took over the business, and successfully ran the operation at the Clothes Quarters and Clothes Tree stores.

“Debby’s contributions were broad, and ranged far beyond her secular and religious activities, which were many,” said Phyllis Markus. “It was her incredible talent to figure things out that allowed her to touch so many lives in such a meaningful way. Debby’s strong sense of family and her devotion to all of us was a precious gift.”

Prior to her work at Clothes Quarters, Mrs. Storch had helped at her family’s clothes manufacturing business on Washington Ave. Previously, she had taught school in South Boston.

Mrs. Storch worked on environmental causes, and was involved with Friends of Music at Washington University, and was a strong supporter of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Rep. Rachel Storch, a daughter, was quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as saying, “She was a very active and civically engaged person who had a great passion for life.”

She was married for 35 years to Dr. Gregory Storch, a pediatric infectuous disease and AIDS specialist at Washington University.

Mrs. Storch was an active member of the Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Synagogue, and was one of its representatives on the Beth Hamedrosh Hagodol Cemetery Association Board of Directors, until she resigned due to her illness.

When she became ill, Mrs. Storch became active in support of Dr. John DiPersio’s leukemia and stem cell treatment, not only for herself, but for others.

Funeral services were held at the Berger Memorial Chapel, where Rabbi Mordecai Magence officiated. Remarks were also offered by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis of New York City, a nationally noted motivational and inspirational speaker, as well as by members of Mrs. Storch’s family.

In his eulogy, Rabbi Magence said, “The rabbis tell us that there is eternal life in the presence of the Almighty, but in addition, the life well-lived is perpetuated in this world by the examples of our loved ones set for us and by the standards they taught their children. In that regard, Debby Storch will live on, not only in the Divine Presence, but in this realm through her legacies: a loving, compassionate supportive daughter, wife, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend.”

Her husband, Dr. Gregory Storch, said, “Reflecting now, more than 35 years (later), I see with amazing clarity how special she was.”

In her remarks, Rachel Storch said, “Your presence here today is a testament to the number of lives my mother touched. She had an amazing way of connecting with people.”

Following the funeral service at the Berger Memorial Chapel, burial was at the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City.

In addition to her husband and daughter Rachel, among the survivors are another daughter, Emily Storch of Pittsburgh; two sons, Nathaniel Storch and Thomas Storch, both of New York; three sisters, Phyllis Markus and Roberta Gutwein of St. Louis and Marjorie Fatalevich of San Francisco; and a brother, Stephen Poore of Los Angeles. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Stem Cell Program, Division of Oncology at the Washington University School of Medicine.