Stephen Klimow

Stephen Klimow
of Johnson City
Stephen Klimow, 87, of Johnson City, passed away on Veterans Day, November 11, 2007. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Dorothy Dear Klimow; and is survived by son, Colonel (Ret.) Matthew Stephen Klimow; daughter, Dr. Susan Micks Klimow; grandsons, Daniel A.T. Klimow and Maxwell Micks; and his sisters, Anastasia Fontana and Helen Otocka. Known affectionately as "Dutch," he was the son of Matthew and Elizabeth Vanek Klimow. Three brothers and one sister preceded him in death (Nicholas, Henry, Alexander and Rose). For decades beginning in the 1920s, the Klimow family grocery store on the corner of May and Colfax Avenues in Binghamton was a neighborhood gathering place for adults and hang-out for children. Dutch and his brothers formed many sports teams and clubs in their youth, and were known as "The Aristocrats," a rye name for their club given the poverty they knew as boys in the 1st Ward. After Pearl Harbor, Dutch "joined up." He participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers in the early 1940s and shipped out to the European Theater of War with the 639th AAA Battalion, 49th Anti-Aircraft Brigade, 1st Army. After encamping in Aldermaston, England, the 639th crossed the channel and on December 16, 1944, were located near St. Vith when the Battle of the Bulge began. Dutch's unit came under heavy artillery fire and, with out regard for his own safety, used his own body to shield his wounded comrade, Eddie Socha, until the bombardment ceased. The 639th held a key road junction one mile from the infamous massacre of American POWs at Malmedy. Later in the war, Dutch and his unit reinforced the critical bridgehead over the Rhine River at Remagen, and Dutch was there the day the bridge collapsed. His unit also passed through the notorious concentration camp at Buchenwald. Dutch befriended one of the young liberated prisoners who spoke Slovak, and after the war met up with him in NYC. This was a deeply moving experience for Dutch. Dutch visited the battle sites again in 1977, and had a grand reunion with the Belgian family that sheltered his gun crew for many days during the war. After the war, Dutch returned to Binghamton where he met the girl of his dreams, Dorothy Dear, at the Polish Community Center. They married in 1950, and the Klimow family lived for over 50 years on Pearl Avenue in Johnson City. Steve worked for Ozalids Corporation for over 30 years. He was a lifelong member of John Hus Presbyterian Church, where he sang in the choir and was a Deacon. Steve and Dorothy's social life revolved around the John Hus Beacon Club and the Stonehenge Recreation retreat along the Genegantslet River near Greene. He was an amateur bird watcher and naturalist. Dutch was well-loved by his many nieces and nephews and grandchildren, who he took on nature hikes and bird watching outings. Like his brothers, Dutch loved baseball. In his later years, he was a member of "The Lightening Bolts," who won the N.Y. State Senior Championship and represented N.Y. at the Senior Olympics. Dorothy and Steve traveled frequently, visiting their son, Matt at his many military postings and daughter, Susan in Alaska. After Dorothy passed away, Dutch and his two sisters, Stasia and Helen, were inseparable and could be found at many social gatherings around the Triple Cities. There was never a gentler or kinder sole, a more generous uncle, loving brother, or devoted father.
A Memorial Service will be held in his honor on December 1st at 4:00 p.m. at John Hus Presbyterian Church, 47 Glenwood Ave., Binghamton, N.Y. 13905. Reception immediately following at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to John Hus Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are by the Barber Memorial Home, Inc., 428 Main St., Johnson City.