Bruce Koch, 60, bassist and Starr CFO
Bruce W. Koch, 60, the chief financial officer at Starr Restaurants, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Einstein Medical Center after suffering a massive stroke Saturday morning at his home in East Mount Airy.
Bruce W. Koch, 60, the chief financial officer at Starr Restaurants, died Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Einstein Medical Center after suffering a massive stroke Saturday morning at his home in East Mount Airy.
In addition to overseeing the finances of Stephen Starr's extensive restaurant empire, Mr. Koch found the time to play bass in two local bands.
"Bruce was a delightful guy - warm and generous and a great musician who had a passion for music," said David Thornburgh, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy.
Thornburgh said he met Mr. Koch more than 15 years ago when his band, the Reckless Amateurs, was looking for a bass guitarist.
The band, which specializes in Americana music, plays locally and performed last summer in State College at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.
"Given the kind of day job he had, it's astounding he could find time for both," Thornburgh said.
LaRose Ray, who had been married to Mr. Koch for 33 years, said her husband enjoyed accounting, worked hard at his job, and "loved the numbers piece."
Mr. Koch also played bass with the Humbleman Band, which his wife described as a rock and ska group.
Mr. Koch grew up in the suburbs of Reading, a son of the late Jack and Patricia Koch. At Mount Penn High School he was the president of his senior class, salutatorian, and was named a National Merit Scholar, his younger brother Thomas said Wednesday.
Mr. Koch attended Lehigh University, where he majored in accounting and earned his CPA soon after he graduated.
He began his accounting career at the Philadelphia office of Arthur Andersen, where he worked for a decade. He later decided to take a break from the corporate world to become more involved with community activities in Northwest Philadelphia.
"He didn't want to go the partner track," Ms. Ray said. "He wanted more time to play music."
Mr. Koch was the chairman of the board of trustees of Einstein Healthcare Services and had been on its board since 1999.
In addition to his wife and brother, he is survived by his daughters, Jessi and Nina; granddaughter Antoinette Chase; his mother, Patricia; and brother James and sister Anne Hall.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, at 1 p.m. at the Germantown Friends Meetinghouse, 47 W. Coulter St.
Although the location has not been confirmed, the family will hold a repast afterward. All the bands that Mr. Koch had performed with are scheduled to play.
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