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Subject: Joseph B. Dratch, 76, founder of women's store
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:13:22 EST
Message-ID: <metro86.1992Nov10.151322@AmeriCast.com>

\SE B;METROPOLITAN;OBITUARIES
\HD Joseph B.  Dratch, 76, founder of women's store

Joseph B.  Dratch, 76, co-founder of Claire Dratch Inc., a women's
specialty shop in Bethesda, died of a heart attack Nov.  7 at his home in
Chevy Chase.

Born in Boston and raised by his widowed mother in New York City, where
he attended public school, Mr.  Dratch graduated from the City College of
New York in the early 1940s.

He began his retailing career in 1943 as a district supervisor for the
Adeline Shops, a national chain of women's specialty stores.  In 1946, he
leased a dress department in the Lillian Gusack Shop, a hat store on
Connecticut Avenue.

It was about that time that he met and married Claire, who was a buyer
for Ehrlbackers, a dress manufacturer, and two years later they created the
company that bears her name.

Mr.  Dratch retired as chairman of the company earlier this year.

Mrs.  Dratch remains in the business, along with their son, David, who
has been president since 1985.

Mr.  Dratch's favorite recollection of the family start-up was a story
of a nighttime burglary at the store before its first day of business.

The Dratches discovered that someone had broken into the store and
stolen everything.  But their fashion suppliers came to the rescue because
of the family's reputation and replaced the lost garments, ultimately
saving the business.

Over the years, the shop's patronage included Cabinet wives and career
women.  Its bridal shop prided itself on personal service.

Mr.  Dratch was known in retail circles as a fashion scholar and
skilled store manager.  He often lectured at area high schools and colleges
on fashion.

"Mr.  Dratch had an important influence in bringing designer and
fashion clothing to Washington ahead of the department stores . . . and he
proved that a family-run business worked in this city," said Gary Curtis,
spokesman and vice president of the Washington Board of Trade.

Mr.  Dratch was active in Jewish community affairs.  He was founder of
the Ohr Kodesh Congregation in Chevy Chase and also served as director of
the Hebrew Home for the Aged, creating the group's family thrift shop in
Silver Spring.

He was the first Jewish member of the Bethesda Kiwanis Club.

Survivors include his wife; two other sons, Howard of Santa Monica,
Calif.  and Peter of Ashland, Ore.; a daughter, Gail Dratch of New York;
and three grandchildren.

Services were held yesterday at Ohr Kodesh Congregation.  Burial was at
King David Memorial Park in Falls Church.

The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of
contributions to the Hebrew Home for the Aged or a charity of choice.


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