DONALD KLEIN

KLEIN--Donald R. In loving memory of Donald R. Klein, 77, of New York, NY and East Hampton, NY who, surrounded by family, passed away on September 16, 2022 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Don was born on April 8, 1945 to Florence Williamson Klein and George C. Klein, the second of their three children, in the close-knit community of Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, NY. Don attended Xavier High School in NYC and completed a year at Notre Dame University before graduating from St. Francis College in 1970 and completing his MBA at Fordham University. As an early adopter of computers and having a brilliant mind for systems and programming, he built and ran several companies including Applications Incorporated, Infodex, and Turbogroup. He was often found programming and coding in his bedroom late at night when inspiration struck. His last endeavor was EastEndTech, a company he built to provide computer service and support from Manhattan to Montauk until he retired in 2018. Don and his first wife Korynne Taylor welcomed five children between 1965 and 1973. Their marriage ended in divorce, and they remained friends over the years. Don remarried in 1985 to Karen Loucks, and they welcomed his sixth child in 1986. Don was a loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He had numerous passions in life. He was an avid fisherman and could often be found surf casting in various favorite spots on eastern Long Island as the sun was rising with his fishing buddies or one of his kids in tow. He loved gardening and would often be looking for ways to better his vegetable garden or add exciting new seeds to what he was cultivating for the following year. His favorite spot in the house was "his kitchen" where he would prepare meals for extended family and friends. Music was an important fabric woven throughout his life, and he could often be found singing along to Sondheim hits or crooner classics. During the later years of his life, he was happy to sit with his wife by his side watching boats enter and exit the harbor by their home on eastern Long Island, often with a martini in hand and music playing or watching their grandchildren play and laugh. Don was predeceased by his parents Florence and George Klein, his brother George (Bud) Klein, Jr. and his son Matthew R. Klein. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Karen Klein; his children: Richard Klein, Christopher Klein (Lina), Adrienne Ratto (Alessandro), Stephanie Reppert (Todd) and Allison Throop (Randall); his sister Elizabeth Squeglia and brother-in-law, Anthony; his sister- in-law, Linda Klein; and his 11 grandchildren: Megan, Clara, Avery, Olivia, Giulia, Nicole, Luca, Audrey, Rowan, James, and Ellie; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don's memory to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Xavier High School (NYC) and The East Hampton Food Pantry. A Celebration of Life will be held at Frank Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan on October 8, 2022 at 3pm.