F. 'David' Storch

F. “David” Storch, died in his Pleasanton home on Feb. 23, after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.

Born Dec. 5, 1936, in Madera, Calif. to the late Herman Storch and Hermie Lenz, he grew up in the Central Valley and later moved to the San Jose area with his mother and late stepfather William C. Terrell. He graduated from Campbell High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from San Jose State University.

Storch worked as a computer scientist at the Laboratory for 37 years, starting as an operator on the UNIVAC I, one of the first computers. He was the leader of the Large-Scale Systems Group at what became the National Magnetic Fusion Energy Computer Center, responsible for the operating systems on the largest supercomputers available at the time. He retired in 1996.

Flying was one of Storch’s favorite hobbies; he had a pilot’s license and several remote controlled gliders. In his retirement, he enjoyed Sudoku, camping, going to RV rallies and weekly breakfasts with friends from the Livermore Lab.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, and his brother, L. Steven Storch.

Storch is survived by five children: from his first marriage, Desiree Storch of San Rafael, CA; Derek Davis; and David Storch of Modesto, CA; from his second marriage, Benjamin Storch of Haworth, NJ; and Isaac Storch of Ithaca, NY. He also is survived by eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, M. Lynn Storch of San Jose, Calif.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to either, Castle Air Museum, 5050 Santa Fe Drive, Atwater, CA 95301, or the American Cancer Society>. Donations to Castle Air Museum will go toward installing a bench in Storch’s memory next to the B-17 bomber. Please indicate on checks that the donation is in memory of F. David Storch.

An informal memorial will be held at noon Sunday, Aug. 11, at Coffee Ali, 3550 Bernal Ave., Suite 140, Pleasanton.