He was a retired independent financial advisor, having headed The Klein Group, LLC. Jim grew up in a large, rambunctious and athletic Wyomissing family. He played every playground and organized sport possible while going through the Wyomissing school system, and was fortunate to have been on record-setting teams during that time. He earned twelve letters in high school and remained good friends with many of his teammates his entire life.

In the last several years, Jim was inaugurated into both the Berks County Coaches Hall of Fame and the Wyomissing Football Hall of Fame. Jim called these events his "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" and had T-shirts made for all of the friends he could persuade to attend each event.

He continued to play football and basketball on winning teams at Colgate University (B.A. Class of 1965). He was a member of the Senior Honor Society, the Maroon Key, and the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. While at Colgate, Jim made friends with men who together formed a web of connections they maintained their entire lives, and who greatly supported him during his final illness.

Upon graduation he was invited to try out with the NY Jets, played an exhibition season, and thereby fulfilled a dream of every small-town boy.

Jim served as a much decorated First Lieutenant in the United States Army, Second Brigade, Ninth Infantry Division. He served from 1965 to 1968, including a tour of duty in Vietnam where he served as a platoon leader. Jim always felt honored to have served his country, and grateful he survived.

In 1968, Jim attended the Marshall School of Business at USC (M.B.A. Class of 1970), where he met his future wife, Gwen, and was instantly smitten. He remained smitten the rest of his life. They married in 1970 and moved to NYC where Jim began his banking career with Citicorp.

During the next 25 years, he worked also for National Westminster, American Bank and Trust, The Knoblauch Private Bank, and Security First Bank. He served as president of the last two organizations. During that period he also consulted for Main Street Bank, Sovereign Bancorp, and Source Capital, LLC. He retired from banking in 1995 to work as an independent financial advisor.

Jim was a member of the Board of Directors of South Mountain YMCA for 30 years, and also served as its president. He had been a camper and counselor there, his father served on the board before him, and his grandfather played a role in establishing the equestrian program.

For the last decade, Jim was also a board member of the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. He chaired and was a member of several committees, creating awareness and raising money to preserve the Chester County countryside he loved, while enjoying the camaraderie of his friends and neighbors in the Trust.

His farm neighbors knew him as "The Bluebird Man." He trudged over his and adjoining fields in bulging cargo shorts and outsized hat carrying a clipboard and wasp spray, making weekly checks on his string of bluebird houses. He was able to develop a large population of endangered birds locally, where there had been none before. This small twenty-year project was a source of quiet happiness to him.

In addition to his wife of 43 years, Jim is survived by his siblings: Philip, Lucy (Guthrie) and Tom. He was predeceased by his brother, John. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. In addition, he leaves behind a host of wonderful friends who helped make his life rewarding and a great joy.

Services will be at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Douglassville, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. Burial in Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, will be private.

Contributions in lieu of flowers should be made to the charity of the donor's choice, or even better, to one of Jim's choosing. Any donations should mention Jim's name. French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust www.frenchandpickering.org; Camp Conrad Weiser www.smymca.org; Cornell Lab of Ornithology www.birds.cornell.edu.

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Reading Eagle on May 6, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for James Klein

16 Entries

Jim Yanni

May 12, 2014

Jim was not just a great athlete..he was a great guy and I was honored to be his friend and teammate at Colgate

May 9, 2014

I only knew Jim as a young boy when his family first moved to Wyomissing Hills. It never surprised me that he became an outstanding athlete given his older brother's talents. Jim and his family were huge assets to the Wyomissing community. My condolences to all the family.
Rich Chafey, Meadville, Pa

Bob Hahn

May 8, 2014

I don't think I ever played a baseball game when Jim was not on the field with me. A great competitor, a good friend, and a great person.

Bob Hahn

Ron Adams

May 8, 2014

A longtime friend and teammate certainly left his mark on those he met. Jim always had time to sit and catch-up on his and my progress thru life when our paths crossed. The Gloater always had that knowing grin on his face when we talked.We shared some great times together. Sorry you are gone Jim, but glad your no longer suffering. "Ads"

Philip Parli

May 7, 2014

I was saddened to hear of Jim's passing. Jim and I go back to our childhood days. I grew up in West Reading and he in neighboring Wyomissing. We competed in a number of youth league games. He was the guy you wished you had on your team. We went to separate high schools, but I remember reading about his exploits in all athletic arenas even after my family moved away in my Junior year. We met again at Colgate and often enjoyed reminiscing about "the old days" as recently as Jim Himoff's Point O Pines Reunion late last summer.
What a great guy. My condolences to his family.
Phil Karli

Peter Mohn

May 6, 2014

Jim was the greatest athlete (in a family of remarkable athletes) I ever saw perform in the Berks County area during my grammar school years. I idolized him and pictures of his performances hang in my "ManCave' to this day. My condolences go out to Phil, Lucy, and Tom. The Kleins were a very special family.

John Magee

May 6, 2014

I played with Jim and his brother Phil on the Shillington American Legion baseball team. About 20 years ago I met Jim's girlfriend from high school at a social event, and we proceeded to exchange many positive comments about him. I was saddened by his passing at this time since his very productive life with its many positive effects should have lasted at least another 20 years. We were lucky to have known him.

Ron Bauer

May 6, 2014

I considered Jim one of my best friends throughout our school years. We spent some great times with my parents and sister vacationing in Wildwood during our younger years. My thoughts and prayers are with Gwenn and the entire Klein family.

May 6, 2014

Gwen, Lucy, Tom and Phil...

Growing up in our community, the Klein family was always one of the most admired, due in no small part to Jim. His passing, as well as John's, leaves a huge void for all of you. Fortunately, there are so many great memories to help fill it.

Take comfort knowing others share in your loss.

Kent and Mary Hollinger

May 6, 2014

I have so many wonderful memories tied to the Klein family. Playing in that gigantic rec room on Orchard Way, getting stuck in the washing machine during a hide and seek game! Jimmy coming to pick up Jan, me and Mariann Horst at a camp in Vermont!, Jim coming over to tell dad he'd met the girl he was going to marry and mom being not so secretly disappointed that I had not managed to snag him, and Jim, all those many years later, visiting with Mom in the Highlands and delighting her with stories of the bluebirds.

Sally Coulton