ERNEST VICTOR KLEIN

KLEIN, Ernest Victor "Ernie" Passed away Tuesday in Eastham, MA at age 87. Ernie was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1933, the first child of Maria Schick Klein and Frank Klein. With Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the family fled to England. Surviving the German Luftwaffe's bombing of London in the spring of 1940, the family made their way to Havana, Cuba and finally on to New York City in November of 1940.

Ernie attended the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City and later graduated with honors from Brown University in 1954.

Ernie enlisted in the United States Army in 1954 and was quickly recognized for his German language skills. He was posted to Berlin, Germany and there served in an Army intelligence unit gathering information on Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces at the height of the Cold War.

Completing his military service in 1956, Ernie returned to the United States where he became reacquainted with Leonora Daniels, a former classmate at Brown. The couple married in October of 1958 and moved to Washington, DC where Ernie attended Georgetown Law School on the GI Bill, making law review in his second year. Three children soon followed.

The young family moved to Boston in 1961 and Ernie joined the law firm of Gaston & Snow. He became the youngest partner in the firm's history and went on to be recognized as one of the nation's leading authorities on mutual fund law. He completed his distinguished law career at WilmerHale, establishing and serving as Chairman of their Investment Management Group.

Widowed by the death of his first wife Nora in 1988, Ernie met Susan Williamson of Saddle River, NJ in 1990. The couple wed a year later and enjoyed a loving relationship for 29 years. In 2000, Sue and Ernie welcomed their daughter Olivia to the family.

Ernie was a 60 year resident of Beacon Hill and loved the City of Boston. He also loved travel, reading, skiing and was an avid tennis player. He was a Founding Board Member of Tenacity, the Boston based organization that supports urban youth through tennis and academic programs, and served as a board member for 16 years.

But no passions burned brighter for Ernie than opera and football, specifically the New England Patriots. Adopting the newly formed underdog franchise shortly after moving to Boston in the early 60s, Ernie went on to become one of the longest season ticket holders, enjoying his seats for well more than 50 years. Through countless terrible seasons and teams, he remained loyal and was eventually rewarded with the team becoming a great dynasty in professional football.

After retirement, Ernie channeled his passion for opera into the co-founding of Boston Midsummer Opera. He served as Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the summer opera company, producing consistently memorable opera for Boston audiences, now in its 15th season.

Ernie leaves behind his loving wife Susan Williamson Klein of Boston, brother Francis Klein of Glen Ridge, NJ, sister Jill Grant of Washington, DC ; his children Elizabeth Klein of Hancock, NH, Hailey Klein of Amesbury, MA, Joshua Klein of Hancock, NH and Olivia Klein of Boston, MA. He was the proud grandfather of Meghan Klein, Jordan Klein, Leandra Klein and Aidan Klein as well as nieces Laura, Claire, Carly, Hayley, Diane, Lucy, Lauren, Amy and nephews Ted, Henry, John, Matthew and Peter. He had many in-laws and friends he cared for deeply. He was predeceased by his beloved sister Ann Weissberg.

A celebration of Ernie's life is planned for the Spring of 2021. Donations to Boston Midsummer Opera at http://www.bostonmidsummeropera.org/wordpress/ are welcomed.