Philadelphia produce industry legend Jimmy Storey died in the early hours of Oct. 13. He was 70.

Storey owned Quaker City Produce, which was operated by his son, Peter Storey, who was assisted by Jimmy Storey’s wife, Megan (Urzillo) Storey, business manager. Peter indicated that his father, who had been in ill health for about six years, died at 1 a.m.Jimmy Storey being interviewed in September 2005. Seen with Mr. Storey is Joe Procacci, CEO of Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., and Sonny DiCrecchio, CEO of the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market. (Photo by Tad Thompson)

Quaker City Produce was founded in Philadelphia in the 1940s by brothers Dan and Jim Story, who was Jimmy’s father. Quaker City was among the original companies to move into the Philadelphia Regional Produce Market when it opened in 1959 on the Food Distribution Center.

For 20 years Storey was president of the Regional Produce Cooperative Corp., which managed Philadelphia’s old produce market. He led the decade-long effort to build the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, which opened June 5, 2011.

“He was the force behind the force that built the new market,” said Mark Levin, chief executive officer of M. Levin & Co. Inc. “He was the force on the old market.”

Joe Procacci, CEO of Procacci Bros. Sales Corp., which is also based in Philadelphia, said that Storey “was a gentleman in the industry. When he said he would do something, he would do it. His word was 100 percent. I had known him since he was very young, working for his uncle. He was a hard-working guy and he learned the business very fast. He was quite successful in his time. I’m going to miss him. God rest his soul.”

George Manos, president of T.M. Kovacevich-Philadelphia Inc., said, “The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market was built on the back of Jimmy Storey.  He was a real character and a great guy.”

Richard Nardella, CEO of Nardella Inc. on the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market, said, “Jimmy was one of the best people in the produce industry that I ever knew. Ahead of his own business, he was 100 percent for the Philadelphia produce market. We were friends for a lot of years. Jimmy did a lot for everybody — he did things for anybody that needed help. I will truly miss him. He helped me a lot. He was just a great, great man.”

Now free of his health matters, “Jimmy is at peace,” added Nardella, who is retired but remains CEO of his firm, which is also on the PWPM.

Levin said Storey was “a gentleman. He was a good businessman. He was instrumental in keeping the old market together and was instrumental in building the new market. He will be sorely missed.”

Levin said he had known Mr. Story “all my life. He was such a vibrant guy in his heyday. No one knew produce better. It’s a shame he had to go out that way.”

“Jimmy was very proud of all the business relationships he made over his time here,” Peter Storey said Oct. 14. “I have had more people tell me what he did to help them. He had strong business relationships over his whole life.”

In addition to his son and wife, Mr. Storey is survived by two daughters, Christine McClintock and Paula Hopkins.

A Philadelphia viewing for Mr. Storey was scheduled for Oct. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at the Rachubinski Funeral Home, 781 S. Front Street.

A Cape May, NJ, viewing and the funeral will be Oct. 19 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church at 525 Washington Mall. The 12:30 to 1:30 viewing will be followed by a mass of Christian burial. The burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, 1056 Seashore Road in Cape May.