Milton Klein

1924 - 2022

Milton Klein
Longtime Bay Area resident Milton Klein, a key figure in NASA's Apollo program and the nascent nuclear energy industry, passed away peacefully on March 2nd. He was 98. When the US government established NASA, Milton Klein was appointed to oversee development of nuclear technology for space exploration. His office developed nuclear-powered rocket technology and nuclear batteries that have been used to power scientific stations on the moon, "rovers" on the surface of Mars, and for spacecraft exploring the far reaches of the solar system and beyond.
"Houston, we have a problem:" In 1970, when Apollo 13 suffered a nearly catastrophic accident on the way to the Moon, Klein was named to the NASA panel tasked with determining the cause. For his services, he was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.
Born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., Milt loved baseball, playing a sand-lot version and traveling by street-car as a part of the first knothole gang program, allowing kids to watch games for free. He also developed a love for jazz and classical music. Milt attended University City High School, where he was class valedictorian, and later graduated from Washington University .
After serving in the Navy as an electronics technicians mate in WWII, he met his beloved Frances Motto (to whom he was married for 65 years) and earned an MBA from Harvard.
During his decades-long career, Klein contributed to significant energy-related milestones. Working in the then-existing Atomic Energy Commission, he negotiated arrangements with electric utilities to construct and operate the first privately financed and owned nuclear power plants— the beginning of the nuclear power industry. When the oil embargo of the early 1970's prompted a major push to develop non-oil energy technologies, Klein was asked to return to the AEC as Assistant General Manager for Energy Development as it was transitioning to the broader department of energy, working to advance solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear power. When the US and other industrial countries established the International Energy Agency to reduce dependence on imported oil, Klein was asked to organize the program to advance such non-oil energy technologies.
He and his wife moved to the Bay Area in 1980 to serve as Vice President of the Electric Power Research Institute, focusing on the reliability and environmental quality of the US electric system and advancing relevant technology.
In retirement, Klein undertook several volunteer activities including providing free consulting services to non-profit organizations through the Bay Area Harvard Business School club. He was also invited to join the board of Abilities United, an organization serving the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families.
Throughout his life, Milt traveled the world for work, pleasure and to satisfy an unending curiosity.
He is survived by three children and their spouses and two grandchildren, who all miss his sharp wit, charm, life-long support and moral integrity.