Obituary of Justin Klein
Justin Klein July 18, 1930 to February 7, 2019
Justin Klein of Geneseo, NY, formerly of Rush NY, peacefully passed from this life in the early hours of February 7, 2019. Born to Henry and Martha Klein in New York City on July 18, 1930. He is predeceased by sisters Rosalind Solomon and Lorraine Klein. He lives on in the heart of the love of his life and wife of 58 years, Margot Klein (Follis), with whom he lived happily and lovingly to the end. He also lives on in the hearts of his six children and their spouses: Gregory and Jean (Linnenbach) of Baldwinsville NY, David and Bonnie (Lydon) of Walworth, NY, Norman and Mary ( Kellogg) Henrietta, NY. , Gordon and Patty (Tinney) of Livonia, NY, Renee and Mark Hoffman of Groveland NY and Sichhun Chhim of Penfield, NY. He was also the proud grandfather of 20 and great grandfather of four, plus an Uncle and Great Uncle to many nieces and nephews.
He grew up in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. Living 15 blocks north of Yankee’s Stadium, his father, who loved baseball and was an unshakable Yankees fan, would bring young Justin to Yankees games on weekends when the Bombers were in town. Memories dad shared included shaking hands with Babe Ruth and being in the stands for Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech. He lived in the Bronx through college, attending NYU and working at various Barricinni’s Candy Stores. He would graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Soon after graduation, he was drafted into the US Army where he proudly served in the First Armored Division. Upon his discharge from military service, he returned to the Bronx and started his accounting career at Colgate Palmolive. During this period, he would discover folk music and over the years would become an accomplished banjo player, frailing away on his Pete Seeger Vega banjo.
Early in 1960, he and two friends decided a ski trip to Quebec would be a nice winter vacation and traveled to a popular singles ski resort in Quebec Canada. Taking a care free approach in planning the trip, they found that the resort was full, leading them to the Laurentide Inn. It is here he would meet Margot Follis, a nurse from Grosse Pointe Michigan. After the vacation, smitten, Justin would travel from NYC to Grosse Pointe for weekend visits leading to his marriage proposal. Justin and Margot wed in October of 1960.
After the wedding, Justin took a job as a staff accountant with Arthur Anderson. In three years he found employment in Jackson Michigan as Assistant Controller at Jacobsen’s Department Stores. Always humble, his career path was driven more by his desire to provide a good life for his growing family, than any need for professional recognition or accolades. He would relocate the family several times, taking financial management positions with greater responsibilities, including five years with O’Neil’s Department Stores, in Akron Ohio and a year’s stay with Sibley’s in Rochester. In 1972, he was offered the Chief Financial Officer position at Garfinkel’s, a highly regarded clothier in Washington DC. and moved the family to Potomac Maryland. After two years, he returned to Sibley’s as that Department Store’s CFO, where he remained until it was purchased by the May Company in 1987. Subsequently, he would work briefly for The Fair Stores in Beaumont Texas, ending his career as the CFO of Addis & Dey’s Department Stores in Syracuse, NY. In retirement, he was able to expand his interest in and knowledge of woodworking as a sales person at the Woodcraft Store in Henrietta, NY.
His love, kindness, and counsel will be greatly missed by his wife and family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made, in his memory, to the ABVI (Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired) at ABVI C/O Goodwill of the Finger Lakes 422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester NY. 14620 DONATE ONLINE. A celebration of Justin’s life is presently in the planning stage.
