Bob Koch - R.I.P. - PhillyBlog

SurfDog · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Robert E. Koch

KOCH

ROBERT E., Aug. 8, 2005, husband of Patricia (nee Wiley), brother of Dr. Barry Koch (Abby) and the late Louis Koch, stepfather of Charles Haub (Missi), David Haub (Shirley) and Michael Haub (Kristen), grandfather of Christina, Sophia, Matthew and Michael. Relatives and friends are invited to Graveside Services Wed. 12 noon precisely Har Jehuda Cem. (Section 10 commandments). Family will return to his late residence. Contributions in his memory may be made to Make A Wish Foundation, Five Valley Square, 512 Township Line Road, Suite 103, Blue Bell, PA 19422.

GOLDSTEINS' ROSENBERG'S

RAPHAEL SACKS
Published in the Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News on 8/9/2005.

http://www.legacy.com/philly/LegacyS...sonId=14791341

Eagle Scout · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Koch's Delicatessen

More Meat for Less Bread!
4309 Locust Street
Philadelphia PA, 19104
PHONE: 215-222-8662

Since 1966, famous for its entertaining service, great conversations and free samples while you wait, this place is among the best delis around. Worth the walk. Also famous for oversized hoagies and thick milkshakes/real ice cream. All sandwiches, hoagies, meats and cheeses sliced fresh to order. Winner of 10 "Best of Philly" awards for deli, CB specials, chopped liver, Italian hoagies and deli personnel. Also Zagat rated 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 for extraordinary food and excellent service and Craig Laban's book on savoring Philadelphia (Philadelphia Inquirer food critic).

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/dg...est&Est_ID=257

SurfDog · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Posted on Wed, Aug. 10, 2005

Robert E. Koch, 58, owner of take-out deli

By Gayle Ronan Sims
Inquirer Staff Writer

Robert E. "Bob" Koch, 58, who spent nearly four decades slinging corned beef and other sandwiches and jokes in University City, died of heart failure Monday at home in Havertown.

After graduating from Overbrook High School in 1965, Mr. Koch attended Community College of Philadelphia for a few months but decided it was not for him. The next year, he went to work full-time for his parents at their newly opened Koch's Take Out Shop, a tiny Jewish deli at 43d and Locust Streets.

Mr. Koch and his brother Louis eventually took over the business, renamed it Koch's Deli, and ran it together until Louis suffered a fatal heart attack in 1995. After that, Mr. Koch ran the show.

Koch's Deli was Mr. Koch's life. He spent long hours at the shop and allowed himself one day off - Wednesday - a week. The only time he got away from the shop was during the summer, when it closed from Aug. 1 to Labor Day. Not that it was a monthlong vacation. He would spend many days straightening up the shop after it closed and getting it ready to open.

Mr. Koch made the sandwiches slowly and seriously, cut to order, stacking the meat evenly from front to back, and slicing without crushing.

His labors resulted in long lines of Penn and Drexel students and West Philadelphia regulars who came for thinly cut, thickly stuffed sandwiches and deli food.

"Cut it thin," Mr. Koch coached an employee in a 2002 Inquirer story. "Pack it in. No empty spots. No fluffed-up phony stuff. No soggy tomatoes."

The restaurant, strictly a take-out joint, was adorned with photographs of customers waiting in line. And wait they did, in interminable lines made a bit more bearable by Mr. Koch's jokes. In a 1987 Inquirer story on New Year's resolutions, for example, Mr. Koch said: "I resolved to stop having women love me for my meat."

The future of Koch's Deli is uncertain.

Mr. Koch's brother, Barry, yesterday said he could not devote the time to the deli that his brothers did. "The deli's future is the last thing I am thinking about right now," he said.

In addition to his brother, Mr. Koch is survived by his wife of nearly four years, Patty Wiley Koch; stepsons Charles, David and Michael Haub; and four step-grandchildren.

A graveside funeral will be held at noon today at Har Jehuda Cemetery on Lansdowne Avenue in Upper Darby.

Contact staff writer Gayle Ronan Sims at 215-854-4185 or gsims@phillynews.com.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/new...s/12343552.htm

thomast · #4 (**permalink**) 08-10-2005, 04:03 PM

Bob was a great man, and I'm proud to have been not only his customer, but his employee. One of the most nervous moments of my food service career was when I had to make demo sandwiches to send home to his mom to get her approval before I was allowed to make sandwiches for customers. Bob expected his employees to work as hard and care as much about the customers as he did, which was a hard standard to live up to. It was always amazing when some 40ish guy would walk in having not stepped foot in the shop since graduating from Penn and Bobby would know the sandwich, and likely the name, right away.

I last saw him not too long after he and Pat tied the knot, and I could see that he was really happy about it. I heard not long after that he was trying to sell the deli to the right buyer, and while I hoped he would get his well-earned retirement, knew that the deli would never be the same without a Koch behind the counter.

Who knows what will happen to the deli now? It's a great establishment, and I hope it keeps going somehow, and can stand as a tribute to Louis, Bob, and their parents.

seand · #5 (**permalink**) 08-10-2005, 09:18 PM

:great_po:

Thanks for that ThomasT. I can only speak as customer of Koch's but I was always struck by what a kind and generous man Bob Koch seemed to be. Koch's is such a legendary neighborhood institution, I realy hope it continues.