Thursday
27
June
Celebration of Life
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Congregation Gates of Heaven
852 Ashmore Avenue
SCHENECTADY, New York, United States
Obituary of Linda Klein
GUILDERLAND –
Linda Klein, 95, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on June 4, 2024.
She grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, the youngest of five. During her early years, she was an accomplished pianist, ballroom dancer, and debate team champion. She loved spending her weekends at the movies with her siblings.
Linda graduated valedictorian from Wichita Falls High School. She received her BA at Austin State University, Texas in 3 years. She was awarded the honor of Phi Beta Kappa. She was a graduate of Columbia University receiving a Master's in Social Work.
Her professional career began at Montefiore hospital in New York City. She worked at various other locations in NYC including the Children’s center in Harlem. While in NYC, she went to as many Broadway shows as possible, most were the first runs of famous shows. Her favorites were Barbra Streisand and Julie Andrews.
After marrying the late Ray Klein, they moved to Buffalo. After a few years, Linda moved with her family to the Capital District where she lived for the rest of her life. She helped many children and adults with her intuitive social working skills. Founder and Director of Project Hope (a division of Hope House for women) , social worker for the Guilderland School District (developed what is now called the Banana Splits program for children of divorced parents). She ran smoking cessation programs for the American Lung Association, and was a social worker for Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP).
Outside of her professional life, she also helped people in the neighborhood through life’s difficulties. She spent many days drinking coffee and dispensing wisdom to her friends. As a testament to her impact on their lives, many of the original neighborhood families returned to celebrate her 90th birthday.
Her pastimes included gourmet cooking, baking, knitting, sewing, gardening, reading and playing tennis. As a grandmother, she loved taking care of them and attending her grandchildren’s many performances in theater, bands, and orchestras.
She is survived by her children Steven and Susan (Andre Couillard) and her most beloved grandchildren Maxim and Melanie.
The family would like to thank the many caregivers who assisted her during her final decade allowing her to remain happily at home.
A celebration of her life will be held Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 7pm at Congregation Gates of Heaven, 852 Ashmore Ave, Schenectady, NY 12309.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Linda’s memory to the American Lung Association, www.lung.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Klein Family, online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com
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