OBITUARY: Deborah ‘Debi’ Maureen Loach

Deborah “Debi” Maureen Loach, age 53, of Antioch, Tennessee passed away on Thursday, May 25, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Deborah Maureen Loach was born on March 26, 1970 in Lakewood, Ohio.

She was the daughter of Maureen Kundtz and Charles Loach and was married to Richard Graber.

She is survived by her husband Rich, father Charles, brother Brad and his daughter Scarlett and son Gavin, aunt Gloria Rothhaas and her daughter Renee and son Joshua, Uncle John Trepak and his daughters Tiffany and Tammy.

Debi grew up in Lakewood, Ohio where her mother and father raised her in a diverse, cultured and artistic fashion. She was a big fan of sports and loved baseball in particular. She played basketball and baseball, in particular for fun early in life and eventually transitioned into her interests in music. By the time of high school, Debi was participating in numerous music ensembles as a percussionist including Scottish pipe band, where they competed in Scotland.

She also was a member of “Roadshow’, a Manhattan Transfer style vocal jazz ensemble that won national awards including best in the Country. Debi performed “Black Coffee” as a solo in her final performance with the group. Debi graduated with honors in 1988. She focused her musicianship on the world of percussion and was accepted by Hofstra University where she attended for one year. In 1989, she auditioned and was accepted to the Manhattan School of Music where she received her Bachelor’s degree. She then attended Cleveland State University.

Debi met her husband Rich Graber at the Manhattan School of Music and moved to Florida with him in 1995. They enjoyed freelancing career and had many amazing vacations to Disney World in particular. Debi loved the joy of Disney. In 1999, Debi and Rich moved to New Orleans where Rich won a job with the Louisiana Philharmonic. Debi played with that and other ensembles regularly during this time.

In 2005, Debi and Rich’s lives were interrupted by Hurricane Katrina but were resilient and moved to Nashville in 2006, after Rich’s joining of the Nashville Symphony. Debi played with NSO as well as the Huntsville Symphony, Alabama Symphony and the Mobile Symphony, with whom she won a job in 2008. Debi also taught adjunct faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She was always committed to education and took pride in her teaching and her students.

Debi performed with the Nashville Symphony at Carnegie Hall in 2012 and maintained an active musical career during her time in Nashville. She started her chamber music group “Chamber Happenings” in 2020 during the pandemic.

Debi touched so many lives and upon her passing in 2023 has left a void that can not be filled. One of joy, ethics, talent and humanity that can not be forgotten. She made the world a better place and will be missed by all. Her spirit and soul is with us forever.

A gathering of family and friends for Debi will be held Friday, June 2, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home, 201 25th Ave North, Nashville, TN 37203.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Loach family.

For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/

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